Bill passes in Arizona that lets businesses cite religious beliefs in refusing service protecting religious freedom against trumped up lawsuits by LBGT activists

Progressives and the Gay Mafia are quick to call this bill a license to discriminate against Gays.  But, that’s a smokescreen from the real issue of protecting religious freedom of business owners.  

There is no shortage of businesses that will cater to the LBGT community.  However, Gays purposely seek out businesses run by people of faith in order to manufacture a confrontation to get publicity for their agenda.  This law protects business owners from those trumped up controversies and it’s most certainly a good thing.  

The Spokesman Review reports the Arizona Legislature gave final approval Thursday evening to legislation that allows business owners asserting their religious beliefs to refuse service to gays, drawing backlash from Democrats who called the proposal “state-sanctioned discrimination” and an embarrassment.

The 33-27 vote by the House sends the legislation to Republican Gov. Jan Brewer and puts Arizona back at the forefront of a polarizing piece of legislation four years after the state enacted an immigration crackdown that caused a national furor.

Similar religious protection legislation has been introduced in Ohio, Mississippi, Idaho, South Dakota, Tennessee and Oklahoma, but Arizona’s plan is the only one that has passed. The efforts are stalled in Idaho, Ohio and Kansas.

Republicans stressed that the bill is about protecting religious freedom and not discrimination. They frequently cited the case of a New Mexico photographer who was sued after refusing to take wedding pictures of a gay couple and said Arizona needs a law to protect people in the state from heavy-handed actions by courts and law enforcement.
“This bill is not about allowing discrimination,” Republican Sen. Steve Yarbrough said. “This bill is about preventing discrimination against people who are clearly living out their faith.”

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