Arizona's Majority Republican Senate Actually Does It . . . 'Turn Gays Away' Passes

WED FEB 19, 2014
Arizona Senate Actually does it.. 'Turn Gays Away' Passes

Of course, in a race to the crazy, it's always been a dog fight of who actually gets there first. Today, a bill most of us thought was dead after Gov. Jan Brewer refused to sign a previous version roared to life in Arizona, and Arizona passed their own version of 'Turn Gays Away' legislation. The Arizona version expands the definition of practice and observation of religion to include any business or person being within their rights to turn away gay people when selling any service or product. Although they attempt to say it will not cost the state's taxpayers anything to enforce it, they seem blind to the fact that it will surely need to be defended in court and will likely lose that battle.

This is the Fact Sheet from their legislature:

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

PROVISIOHNS:

1. Expands the definition of exercise of religion to specifically include both the practice and observance of religion.

2. Expands the definition of person to include any individual, association, partnership, corporation, church, estate, trust, foundation or other legal entity.

3. Changes the terminology within the prohibition of burdening a person’s exercise of religion to apply to state action instead of government.

4. Defines state action as any action by the government or the implementation or application of any law, including state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and policies, whether statutory or otherwise, and whether the implementation or action is made or attempted to be made by the government or nongovernmental persons.

5. Specifies that a free exercise of religion claim or defense may be asserted in a judicial proceeding regardless of whether the government is a party to the proceeding.

6. Makes technical and conforming changes.

7. Becomes effective on the general effective date.

For more on this heinous bill, go to: www.dailykos.com/story/2014/02/19/1278923/-Arizon … tail=email
By rjzip | 02/20/2014 03:20 PM | 6 comments
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  • imagine how loud they will cry "discrimination!" when the law is applied to deny them some goods or service they want
    goodgrief 02/23/2014 12:09 PM
  • Yes ackinnwackin some of the most virulently anti-gay legislators have been busted in bathrooms soliciting state cops. I love the karma of that. The Congressman from MD, Baumann was his name I believe, they tried to become a gay spokesman, go figure.
    txholdup 02/21/2014 03:51 PM
  • Hey RJ!

    I followed the Kos link and read it and the responses--one of my favorites, in reference to this piece:
    "you CAN'T spell crazy without R-AZ!!" Like Packinnwackin says, 'nuf said!
    furball 02/20/2014 11:58 PM
  • The Republicans are going on such a right-wing binge that they're going to legislate themselves out of existence. Good for them.
    BearinFW 02/20/2014 09:14 PM
  • So now GE can claim to be Jewish, Protestant or Muslim. Interesting.
    txholdup 02/20/2014 04:34 PM
  • The vote was strictly along party lines. Arizona Democrats, who argue the legislation is a way to legalize discrimination against LGBT individuals, sponsored eight amendments in an attempt to thwart the legislation -- all of which were rejected by the Senate Republicans who hold a majority in the Senate.
    rjzip 02/20/2014 03:30 PM