As the nation waits for the Supreme Court’s looming decision on marriage equality, some state governments are rushing to enact anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
A member of the Oklahoma State Legislature recently introduced a bill that would legalize discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community. The Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act allows private businesses and government entities to refuse certain services to LGBTQ+ people on the basis of — you guessed it — religious freedom.
The bill was intended to allow businesses in the wedding industry to turn away same-sex couples, and it goes even further by allowing government agencies, boards, departments and commissions the right to deny services to LGBTQ+ people and refuse to validate or recognize their marriage licenses.
Basically, government employees don’t have to do their jobs if “it would be contrary to the sincerely held religious beliefs of the individual or religious entity regarding sex, gender or sexual orientation.”
Unfortunately, this bill comes at the heels of several similar pieces of legislation that have been introduced in Arkansas, Arizona and Colorado. Another Oklahoma bill, the Freedom to Obtain Conversion Therapy Act, tried to ensure that minors can be forced by their parents to undergo therapy to change their sexual orientation or gender identity, despite the fact that prominent psychological and medical associations argue that such “treatments” can cause serious harm.
In the midst of a possible Supreme Court decision that could legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states, these proposals represent an attempt to delegitimize LGBTQ+ lives and derail the progress that has been made in fighting for equality.
In addition to their obvious promotion of discrimination against members of the LGBTQ+ community, these bills are also hugely insulting to people around the world who are actually struggling for religious freedom. As I write this column, groups of people are being beaten, jailed and prosecuted simply because of their faith.
In contrast, supporters of anti-LGBTQ+ bills wish not to exercise the right to practice their religion, but to punish others for behaving in ways that don’t align with their religious beliefs.
For instance, county clerks who object to same-sex marriage on the basis of their religion can refrain from marrying people of the same sex. They also have the right to quit their jobs. They do not, however, have the right to discriminate against other people.
Thankfully, other lawmakers have responded to these obvious attempts to manipulate the legal system to support personal biases.
Democratic state Rep. Emily Virgin, who is strongly against the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act, proposed an amendment that would force businesses to publish a notice of their discriminatory practices.
According to the proposed amendment, the notice must be posted “in a manner clearly visible to the public in all places of business, including websites.” The notice may cite religious beliefs, but it must state specifically which couples the business refuses to serve on the basis of race, gender identity or sexual orientation.
In suggesting that businesses publicly disclose the fact that they are refusing service to members of the LGBT community, Virgin is treating bills as exactly what they are: legalized discrimination.
Rather than focusing on protecting discrimination, lawmakers should focus on protecting the rights of people in marginalized communities as they strive to achieve equality.
Throughout our country’s history, various religious groups have fought long and hard to overcome the hatred and misunderstanding of others. By now, we should all know that religious freedom is supposed to protect people from intolerance, not inflict them with it. It’s disappointing that some lawmakers can’t tell the difference.
Moriah Camenker is a UF public relations senior. Her column appears on Tuesdays.
[A version of this story ran on page 7 on 3/17/2015 under the headline “Anti-LGBT bills legalize discrimination”]
