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Social conservatives, aka the religious right and republican legislators continue their efforts to deny same sex couples the same considerations (read rights) heterosexual couples enjoy. Kansas, with a republican dominated house just passed House Bill 2453 that would "explicitly protects religious individuals, groups and businesses that refuse services to same-sex couples, particularly those looking to tie the knot." The bill passed the House on a 72 to 49 vote and now goes to the senate were it likely will pass.
Excerpts from CNN U.S.
Denying services to same-sex couples may soon become legal in Kansas.
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Such a law may seem unnecessary in a state where same-sex marriage is banned, but some Kansas lawmakers think different.
They want to prevent religious individuals and organizations from getting sued, or otherwise punished, for not providing goods or services to gay couples -- or for not recognizing their marriages or committed relationship as valid.
This includes employees of the state.
"Kansans across the state are rightly appalled that legislators are spending their efforts to pass yet another piece of legislation that seeks to enshrine discrimination against gay and lesbian people into law," state chairwoman Sandra Meade said.
"HB 2453 is a blatant attempt to maintain second-class citizen status for taxpaying gay and lesbian Kansans."
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Republicans dominate the state's Senate and Gov. Sam Brownback is a conservative Christian known for taking a public stand against same-sex marriage.
Brownback has already praised the bill in an interview with a local newspaper.
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... titled "An act concerning religious freedoms with respect to marriage" and covers many bases.
It reads, in part: "No individual or religious entity shall be required by any governmental entity to do any of the following, if it would be contrary to the sincerely held religious beliefs of the individual or religious entity regarding sex or gender:
"Provide any services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges; provide counseling, adoption, foster care and other social services; or provide employment or employment benefits, related to, or related to the celebration of, any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement."
Anyone who turns away a gay couple not only can't face a civil suit, but if anyone tries to sue, they could get nailed with the other side's legal fees.
Talk about the rights of religious zealots to deny the above list of services to same sex couples is plainly hypocritical as well as being discriminatory. As the religious are so fond of saying God will be the final judge. Indeed the all knowing one may very well be, and I sure as hell wouldn't want to be in the group suporting this hypocrisy and discrimination if I were a believer.
Read the complete story UNDER THE FOLD.
Via: Memeorandum
