NM reps prefile bill allowing business owners to refuse service based on religious freedom claim
Source: KOB Channel 4 New Mexico
Two New Mexico lawmakers have pre-filed a bill that would give state business owners the right to refuse business to gay, lesbian and transgender people and their families on the basis of religious freedom.
Republican Reps. David Gallegos and Nora Espinoza are the sponsors of the bill, HB55.
"The intent of the bill would be to ensure people would not be forced to operate their business that was in a way inconsistent with their religious beliefs," said Rep. Gallegos in a Friday interview.
Such a law would have allowed businesses like Elaine Photography to get away with refusing to photograph a lesbian couple's wedding. In that case, the couple took the refusal to court, claiming the photography company discriminated against them, and won....
Read more: http://www.kob.com/article/stories/s3996834.shtml#.VnVaVr92G3L
THIS is my state's 'representatives' from my neck of the woods...and why I am thinking about running against the ALEC 'Star Legislator' and supporter of bill that would have allowed raped women who got pregnant to be jailed for attempting 'to destroy evidence.' Will be hoping for DU love soon...
peacebird
(14,195 posts)So people will know to avoid them - I am not GLBT but I do not choose to do spend my hard earned money supporting bigots. Unless such a sign is required by the law, then if the law passes I would simply have to avoid any establishment that displays that fish logo. Because the only people who claim they need religious freedom to be bigots tend to be followers of fundamentalist christianity.
elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)elehhhhna
(32,076 posts)peacebird
(14,195 posts)Will they think we two women are lesbians instead of just best friends since our pregnancies over 30 years ago?
duhneece
(4,129 posts)Would that count, since we're not really gay? THey'd have to write the legislation really well to include those inspections. Maybe 'the gays' could just be on a registry for checking. Oh, the possibilities.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)in support of our friends. Wonder what happened to the businesses that tried this before - after they made some money on gofundme that is.
lobodons
(1,290 posts)Since this would fly in the face of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, said business's should also be denied access to any commerce that in any way touches the arm of the federal government. That would include not permitted to use roads, gas stations, obtain supplies, or any other aspect of business and commerce that has a connection with the federal government.
Oh ya, you know that 1st Dollar plaque given to your business by the Chamber of Commerce. Well, you'll need to give that back as well.
Bernardo de La Paz
(49,089 posts)These lawmakers (and all the other examples, of which there are many) know what fails on Constitutional grounds.
But they write and vote for junk laws like these just so that they can have a talking point for their socially ultra-conservative base who are too stupid to know or care about the Constitution despite swearing up and down that they love the Constitution.
Babel_17
(5,400 posts)And that's not a path we want to go down.
keithbvadu2
(37,066 posts)could refuse service to each other based on their religious beliefs with this precedent.
You can start to convince me that a business has religious rights when a business (not the owner) takes Holy Communion.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Duran did a lot of damage to our electoral system before she pissed off some people in high places. But the new sitting sos will do a lot more damage. Way to go New Mexicans who voted in this mess!
duhneece
(4,129 posts)run.
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Vinca
(50,342 posts)transgendered people whose tax dollars build the public highways, water mains, etc. and pay the salaries of police officers, firemen and other employees that keep those bigoted businesses safe.
sulphurdunn
(6,891 posts)that would pass a law like this, it says three things about that state: Either its elections are rigged, its voting districts have been gerrymander to suppress representative government, or a majority of its voters are assholes.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,604 posts)probably isn't going to be enthusiastic about taking photos of the wedding.
Moral: Never piss off the person who has their finger on the shutter button.
Judi Lynn
(160,707 posts)[center]
Elaine, of Elaine Photography
[/center]
Don't humble these smirking US Americans by making them serve the public without discriminating.