Oklahoma Senate panel passes bill protecting discrimination based on behavior, lifestyle or marriage

[Behind the Aegis]

OKLAHOMA CITY — A Senate panel passed a bill that would protect those who discriminate based on marriage, lifestyle or behavior.

Dubbed the “Oklahoma Right of Conscience Act,” Senate Bill 197 now heads to the Senate floor for consideration. Sen. Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow, is the author.

Toby Jenkins, executive director of Oklahomans for Equality, said the measure “will give business owners and government employees a free pass to refuse to do business or provide vital services for LGBTQ individuals and groups.”

“If this bill becomes law,” he said, “day-to-day life will become treacherous and dangerous. LGBTQ Oklahomans won’t know where to buy food, where to live or where to seek medical services because a simple trip to the grocery store might have the door slammed in your face.”

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Anti-LGBT bill advances from committee


OKLAHOMA CITY — Advocates for the LGBT community on Monday expressed frustration with the passage of a measure they say would allow for discrimination and the rolling back of protections that some cities have already established.

The Senate Committee on General Government passed Senate Bill 694 by Sen. Josh Brecheen, R-Coalgate, on Monday.

The measure would prohibit local cities and counties from passing ordinances that are stricter than state law in the areas of employment and public accommodation.

Critics of the measure say it would ban cities and counties from passing or enforcing ordinances that protect people from anti-LGBT discrimination.

The measure would strip away nondiscrimination ordinances already in existence in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Norman, said Troy Stevenson, Freedom Oklahoma executive director.

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Our state is in a financial crisis, and this is what these fuckers do with their time. The attack on the GLBT is just ramping up! Guess us gays didn't get out of this mess like some thought.

[Doreen]

1. OMG!!!!! It does not go after just gay people but everyone different in anyway.

That is the worst bill I have seen to date. Gay, disabled, women, blacks, Mexican, Asian, Muslim, short people, tall people, people with black hair, just anyone somebody wants to be horrible to. It is bill like this that paves the way to violence being acceptable.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. Yeah, exactly.

Hopefully, people will realize it isn't just one group, but many! Maybe if they fall into a group not previously targeted, then they might start to understand, people who make bills like this, pass bills like this, and put politicians in office who sponsor and pass bills like this, will eventually get around to coming for them!

[herding cats]

2. Wow. Overreaching personified.

A glimpse of things to come. We all know these types of laws spread like a virus among like thinking states. Which means I'm right behind you on this insanity.

[irisblue]

4. authoritarianism

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[irisblue]

5. authoritarianism is running parts of our beloved country

BtA I will fight with you.

[Behind the Aegis]

9. Thank you!

If they think I am going back into the closet, they have another thing coming. Trust me, if it gets too bad, you'll hear from my husband using my account begging people to fill a GoFundMe account for my bail! LOL!

[NCTraveler]

6. A Pro-Discrimination Bill. Really?

Not just trying to pull back on legislation already in place. This is just going for the gusto. No one is off limits.

[MineralMan]

7. Buncha backwards morons there in OK.

I couldn't live there.

[Behind the Aegis]

8. Every state has their share, trust me.

I have lived in 13 states and there are yahoos everywhere. OK has some nice points...every now and again.

[Ilsa]

10. It isn't enough to dump the repigs in the house and senate.

We need to turn over all of these gop legislatures. They're toxic.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. I know, right?!

These assholes are trying to pull this shit, while our teachers are going unpaid, fracking is causing earthquakes all over the state, the budget is in freefall, and they spend their time trying to accommodate "snowflakes" who are afraid of their own fucking shadows and want to legally be bigots!

[greymattermom]

11. Just let everyone know where not to go

and lots of folks won't go there.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

13. It blows my mind

that fighting for the LEGAL RIGHT to discriminate against other people on the basis of something that our legal system is not even *supposed* to be based on (i.e. religious beliefs) is a real thing in this country......in 2017. Being legally required to treat other people as fellow human beings does NOT mean that you have to agree with them, their beliefs, lifestyle, etc. but we all live in this country and have to get along. If we all just stopped doing our jobs and refused to service people different from us, we'd have anarchy in this country.