Tag Archives: public accommodations

Matt Baume On Religious Liberty

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Trial Begins For Baker In Marriage Cake Case

Via the Belfast Telegraph: A legal case involving a Christian baker who refused to make a cake bearing a pro-gay marriage slogan cannot be determined on which side shouts loudest, a court in Belfast has been told. Northern Ireland’s Equality Commission is bringing the case against family-run Ashers Bakery on behalf of gay rights activist Gareth Lee, whose order was …

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INDIANA: Governor Mike Pence To Sign License To Discriminate Bill Tomorrow

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INDIANA: Christian Church Threatens To Pull Convention Over Anti-Gay Bill

Via the Indianapolis Star: The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has sent a letter to Gov. Mike Pence threatening to cancel its 2017 convention in Indianapolis if he signs controversial legislation that could allow business owners to refuse services to same-sex couples. “Our perspective is that hate and bigotry wrapped in religious freedom is still hate and bigotry,” Todd Adams, …

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NORTHERN IRELAND: Thousands Rally In Support Of Anti-Gay Bakery

Via the Belfast Telegraph: Hundreds of people including three senior DUP politicians had to be refused entry to a full-to-capacity Waterfront Hall in Belfast last night as thousands of Christians turned up for a rally in support of the Newtownabbey bakery firm which is going to court to defend their refusal to bake a cake for a gay activist. Former …

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INDIANA: Massive Gaming Convention Threatens To Leave The State

Via the Indianapolis Star: The organizers of Gen Con, the city’s largest convention in attendance and economic impact, are threatening to move the event elsewhere if Gov. Mike Pence signs controversial religious freedom legislation that could allow business owners to refuse services to same-sex couples. “Legislation that could allow for refusal of service or discrimination against our attendees will have …

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George Takei Threatens Indiana Boycott

George Takei writes on his Facebook page: The Governor of Indiana has indicated that he will sign SB101—a law that allows businesses to discriminate against customers based on the proprietors’ religious beliefs. This bill is strikingly similar to one proposed—and vetoed due to public outcry—in Arizona. Such laws harken back to a time where our society was divided, and people …

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Flipping The Script On Religious Liberty

Via press release from Truth Wins Out: “If LGBT people can be discriminated against based on faith, so can Christians,” said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. “And there are millions of Americans who are not Christian and may abuse these laws to exclude people based on their Christian beliefs. This, of course, would be wrong, but in our …

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INDIANA: Gov. Mike Pence Is “Looking Forward” To Signing Anti-Gay Bill

“The legislation, SB 101, is about respecting and reassuring Hoosiers that their religious freedoms are intact. I strongly support the legislation and applaud the members of the General Assembly for their work on this important issue. I look forward to signing the bill when it reaches my desk.” – Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, reacting to yesterday’s overwhelming passage of the …

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LAUNCHED: Campaign Urges Indiana Gov To Veto License To Discriminate Bill

Via press release: “As a seminary graduate, this bill is deeply offensive,” said Heather Cronk, co-director of GetEQUAL. “The fact that religion is being used as a smokescreen for deeply hateful and vile sentiments by right-wing extremists, and then cemented into law, is not just un-Christian – it’s un-American.” As activist Scott Wooledge puts it: “I’ve engaged in the battles …

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LIVE VIDEO: Indiana Legislators Debate Anti-LGBT License To Discriminate Bill UPDATE: Bill Passes Overwhelmingly

Watch it here. The bill is expected to be approved but the Democrats are really going to bat for us. UPDATE: The bill has passed overwhelmingly. Gov. Mike Pence is expected to sign it immediately.

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INDIANA: Anti-LGBT “Religious Liberty” Bill Poised For Approval On Monday

As the above HRC map shows, anti-LGBT legislation continues to sweep the nation in advance of the coming ruling by SCOTUS. It appears that Indiana’s license to discriminate bill will be the next to go on the books. Dominic Holden reports at Buzzfeed: Of the 13 religious freedom bills introduced in state legislatures around the United States this year — …

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Silliest Religious Liberty Argument Ever?

In an op-ed published yesterday by the Washington Examiner, Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) argue that since Chipotle can choose to only buy humanely-raised pork, businesses can choose to only serve heterosexuals. Seriously. An excerpt: It is crucial that the same freedom of conscience enjoyed by the leadership of Chipotle remain equally available to business owners …

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Pat Robertson: Public Accommodation Laws Are Destroying American Morality

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Alabama Businesses Sign Equality Pledge

AL.com reports: Continental Bakery owner Carole Griffin has been making food and beverages for the people of Birmingham for three decades, a calling that has brought her success and visibility. During that time, Griffin has always made decisions about who to hire to help at her cafes without granting preference to anyone based on their gender, sexuality or sexual preference. …

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INDIANA: House Committee Approves Religious License To Discriminate Bill

Via the Indianapolis Star: An Indiana House committee today approved controversial religious freedom legislation after those on both sides of the issue rallied in the hallways of the Statehouse. The House Judiciary Committee voted 9-4 to send the measure to the full House for consideration. Supporters say Senate Bill 101 is necessary to protect the freedom of people with strong …

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GEORGIA: Atlanta Resident Elton John Denounces License To Discriminate Bill

“Simply put, this bill is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It promises religious freedom, but let’s be clear: No one’s religious freedom is at risk! Both the Georgia Constitution and U.S. Constitution very explicitly protect this right. What SB 129 will really do is institutionalize the hate some people hold in their hearts against other people. It will turn back …

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OKLAHOMA: Democratic Rep Introduces Amendment Requiring Anti-Gay Businesses To Post Signs That Say So

Democratic Oklahoma House Rep. Emily Virgin yesterday introduced a perfect amendment to the bill that would legalize anti-gay discrimination by businesses. Via Raw Story: “Any person not wanting to participate in any of the activities set forth in subsection A of this section based on sexual orientation, gender identity or race of either party to the marriage shall post notice …

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Hate Group Leader Tony Perkins To Testify Before Congress On Religious Liberty

“One of the benefits of putting conservatives in charge of Congress is that the agendas in most committees change — and issues that weren’t getting as much attention under liberal leaders are now front and center. Tomorrow [today], one of FRC’s greatest priorities, religious liberty, will be the subject of a Senate hearing in the Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign …

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OKLAHOMA: State Sen. Joseph Silk Says Gays Don’t Want Others To Have Freedom

From his campaign website: A bill that I recently introduced (SB 440) would protect businesses and religious entities who run their organizations according to their religious beliefs from being forced to violate their religious convictions in their businesses. This has outraged the LGBT community and they are crying discrimination while making themselves the only “target”, in reality it has nothing …

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