The conservative southern state of Arizona has passed a controversial law allowing businesses to refuse to serve gay people if it goes against the owners' religious beliefs.
After sailing through the state legislature, the law now awaits final confirmation from firebrand governor, Jan Brewer, who has built a national reputation with her right-leaning stance on similarly-sensitive social issues such as immigration and abortion.
Arizona is the only state to have passed such a law. It rules that any obligation to serve gays is a violation of a person's religious freedom if their beliefs tell them that homosexuality is wrong.
If Mrs Brewer, a Republican, now signs the legislation it will mean, for example, that restaurants could legally turn away gay couples or individuals seeking a meal, or a baker could refuse to bake a cake for a gay commitment ceremony. It has not been made clear how a customer's sexual orientation would be established.
The new law provoked outrage from gay groups and prompted the Democratic Party to declare it "state-sanctioned discrimination" and an embarrassment.
Culled from The Telegraph.
No comments:
Post a Comment