Bill allowing 'freedom of religion' to trump anti-discrimination laws looms in Kentucky

[marmar]

March 11, 2013 | A pending bill in the Kentucky state legislature could pave the way for increased discrimination against LGBT people. Patheos notes that human rights groups are going to battle against a bill that would allow residents to sidestep anti-discrimination laws if they pointed to “sincerely” held “religious beliefs” that justify their actions.

The bill is sponsored by a conservative Democrat and has already passed the State Senate. The legislation would boost someone’s ability to “ignore state regulations or laws that contradict his or her ‘sincerely held’ religious beliefs,” Patheos blogger Camille Beredjicknotes.

Gay rights groups are up in arms. “House Bill 279 represents a clear and present danger to the gay and lesbian community and other minority groups around the commonwealth. (The bill) does nothing more than give people permission to discriminate based on their religious beliefs, thereby taking it beyond ‘freedom of religion’ to ‘forced religion,’ because they have imposed their religious beliefs on others, with legal authority to do so,” a letter from the Kentucky Equality Federation to the Senator who introduced the bill states, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.

One State Senator, Democrat Kathy Stein, said that the legislation is “a sword to be used against minorities” and is unconstitutional. ..............................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/kentucky-seeks-legalize-discrimination-against-gays-based-religious-beliefs

[justiceischeap]

1. This is so much like during the 60s (and prior) civil rights movement

They used religion as an excuse to harass and suppress African-American's too.

[SQUEE]

2. Will this include Rastafarian's and Native American religious practices I wonder?

“..ignore state regulations or laws that contradict his or her ‘sincerely held’ religious beliefs,”
Somehow I doubt it.

[msongs]

3. if my "sincerely held" religious beliefs prohibit christianity, can I outlaw the jesus religion? nt

[jwirr]

4. And therein lies the key reason why we have freedom of religion - any religion - in this country.

[Comrade_McKenzie]

5. Crossing my fingers that Gov. Beshear will veto it... nt

[Morning Dew]

6. Ignore state regulations or laws that contradict his or her ‘sincerely held’ religious beliefs?

Good grief, I hope not.

The Bible is full of exhortations to murder.

If a man commits adultery with another man's wife, both the man and the woman must be put to death. (Leviticus 20:10 NLT)

Whoever strikes his father or mother shall be put to death. (Exodus 21:15 NAB)

"If a man lies with a male as with a women, both of them shall be put to death for their abominable deed; they have forfeited their lives." (Leviticus 20:13 NAB)

You should not let a sorceress live. (Exodus 22:18 )

The LORD then gave these further instructions to Moses: 'Tell the people of Israel to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you forever. It helps you to remember that I am the LORD, who makes you holy. Yes, keep the Sabbath day, for it is holy. Anyone who desecrates it must die; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. Work six days only, but the seventh day must be a day of total rest. I repeat: Because the LORD considers it a holy day, anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death.' (Exodus 31:12-15 NLT)

[Nika]

7. Thanks for the heads up on this.

Laws like this are intolerable, and should be fought on every level.

[spanone]

8. 'The bill is sponsored by a conservative Democrat' ....no, that's an insane democrat.

[lame54]

9. Someone tell the Rastafarian's