Senate Bill 180 would allow business to refuse service to LGBTI individuals based on religious beliefs.
The Republican led Senate in Kentucky passed a controversial bill this week that has been nicknamed “License to Discriminate”.
Senate Bill 180 would allow business to legally refuse service to LGBTI individuals based on religious beliefs without facing legal penalties.
Following a debate focused on religion, the bill passed by a vote of 22-16. The bill still has to go to the Democratic controlled House. House speaker Greg Stumbo, does not believe the bill will pass the House because it is unconstitutional. He said, “We took an oath to uphold the Constitution, not violate it.”
Five of the Senate Republicans joined the Senate Democrats to oppose the bill.
The bill’s lead sponsor, Republican Senator Albert Robinson, has argued that if a business is requested to “use their skills to provide a customized service celebrating something that violated one of the tenets of their faith” they should be allowed to deny the services.
He also stated, “There is an agenda at work here that seeks to force people with sincerely held religious convictions to either abandon those beliefs, violate them or face state action that could close their businesses and destroy them financially.”
Director of the Fairness Coalition, an organization working for LGBTI equality in Kentucky, Chris Hartman believes the legislation is “extremely dangerous”. Harman said, “This is as broad as it can be. If anything, this encourages people to discriminate.”
Republican Senator Julie Raque Adams has expressed concern that the bill will be seen as discriminatory and will hurt tourism.