Q Toon: Reserving the Right to Refuse Service

Q Syndicate✒Mar 19, 2015

ReBubbacan legislatures in one red state after another are falling all over themselves to pass laws guaranteeing businesses, landlords, first responders, medical personnel and whomever else a right to discriminate against same-sex couples.

In Oklahoma, Representative Emily Virgin (D-Norman) introduced this amendment to the "religious liberty" bill working its way through her state legislature:

"Any person not wanting to participate in any of the activities set forth in subsection A of this section based on sexual orientation, gender identity or race of either party to the marriage shall post notice of such refusal in a manner clearly visible to the public in all places of business, including websites. The notice may refer to the person’s religious beliefs, but shall state specifically which couples the business does not serve by referring to a refusal based upon sexual orientation, gender identity or race.”

At the moment, Ms. Virgin's amendment has helped to stall the Oklahoma bill.

Meanwhile, another piece of execrable legislation taking authority for issuing marriage licenses away from civil authorities and turning it over to religious clergy passed the state House on March 17. While it might still be possible for gay and lesbian couples to find a Presbyterian, Lutheran, United Church of Christ, Reformed Jewish or Unitarian Universalist cleric somewhere in the Sooner State to bless their union, the bill seems to me to discriminate blatantly against atheists and agnostics.