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U.S. NEWSThursday 7 April 2016
GOP’s social, fiscal conservatives at odds over gay rights
DAVID A. LIEB Cynthia Gifford speaks to reporters as her husband Robert Gifford listens in Albany, N.Y. The Gif- legislatures. Some exam-
Associated Press fords, owners of Liberty Ridge Farm north of Albany, refused to host the 2013 wedding of Melisa ples:
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) and Jennie McCarthy, citing their belief that marriage is between a man and a woman. Republi- — In Tennessee, the House
— Republican lawmakers can lawmakers have advanced measures in about a dozen states this year that could strengthen passed a bill Wednesday
upset about the Supreme protections for those who refuse for religious reasons to provide services to gay couples. letting counselors turn
Court decision legalizing away patients based on
gay marriage have ad- (AP Photo/Mike Groll) “sincerely held principles.”
vanced measures in about The vote came despite an
a dozen states this year religious organizations in penalties for an array of with religious beliefs about online ad campaign from
that could strengthen pro- Kansas from losing aid. A people and organizations, gay marriage, but also to a coalition that includes
tections for those who re- far more sweeping one including marriage-license those who believe that sex the American Counsel-
fuse on religious grounds to was signed into law Tues- clerks, adoption agen- outside marriage is wrong ing Association, asserting:
provide services to same- day by Mississippi Gov. Phil cies, counselors and more and that sexual identity is “Businesses won’t come to
sex couples. Bryant, despite objections than a dozen categories determined at birth. a state that discriminates.”
The bills could benefit court from some major corpora- of businesses that provide Other proposals have The bill needs only a fi-
clerks, photographers, flo- tions. It creates a religious wedding-related services. failed, stalled or are still nal vote from the Senate,
rists, bakers, wedding-hall shield from government It applies not only to those working their way through which previously passed a
operators and others who different version.
say gay matrimony goes — Republican Gov. Na-
against their beliefs. than Deal of Georgia last
For a party already being week vetoed a religious
torn apart by the presiden- protection bill passed by
tial contest, the state legis- the GOP-led House, siding
lative efforts have exposed with top business execu-
deep rifts between the tives who threatened boy-
GOP’s social conservatives cotts and dire economic
and its pro-business wing. consequences.
Business leaders worry that — A GOP-passed bill shield-
such measures will allow ing clergy and religious
discrimination and scare groups from participating
away companies and ma- in gay marriages was ve-
jor events. So far, only a few toed last week by Virginia
proposals have become Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a
law. Those include narrowly Democrat, who cited op-
tailored protections shield- position from corporate
ing Florida clergy from leaders.
having to perform same- — In Missouri, scores of
sex weddings and college activists recently rallied at
the Capitol to protest a
proposed constitutional
amendment that would
prohibit penalties against
those who decline on reli-
gious grounds to provide
wedding-related services
to same-sex couples. The
state Chamber of Com-
merce and Industry also
came out against it.
“This is a unique issue be-
cause two of the primary
bases of the Republican
Party are both the busi-
ness interest and the social
conservative. It’s rare, but
occasionally those inter-
ests are not aligned,” said
Missouri state Rep. Elijah
Haahr, chairman of the
committee considering the
measure.
In several states, major
businesses and sports or-
ganizations — including
Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines,
Walt Disney Co., the NFL
and the NCAA — have
joined lesbian, gay, bisex-
ual and transgender ac-
tivists in raising concerns
that such measures could
legalize discrimination.
