Lawmakers in Louisiana continue to debate a religious freedom bill despite the controversies faced by legislators in other states over similar laws
According to CBS News, Louisiana's lawmakers failed to pass the bill, titled the "Marriage and Conscience Act," to committee hearing stage on Monday, the first day of the state's legislative session.
Rep. Walt Leger told CBS News that the bill was stalled after one of his colleagues attempted to take action on the Act while its sponsor, Rep. Mike Johnson, was absent. CBS News failed to reach Rep. Johnson for comment.
Louisiana's Marriage and Conscience Act is aimed at protecting the individual entrepreneurs and businesses from government sanctions as a result of rendering marriage-related services in accordance to their religious beliefs. It would provide protection to businesses like wedding planners, photographers and bakers which have in the past faced lawsuits and closure because of refusals to serve gay customers.
Opponents of the Act claim that the law will allow businesses that are against same-sex marriages to discriminate against the LGBT community.
Sarah Warbelow of the Human Rights Campaign described Louisiana's Act as "even worse" than the Religious Freedom Restoration Acts in Indiana and Arkansas, which were eventually amended by their respective state governors to specifically prohibit discriminations against the LGBT community.
"(I)t explicitly allows discrimination based on an individual's religious beliefs about marriage," Ms. Warbelow said in a Washington Post article.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal expressed support for the Act, and said that it is not meant to allow discrimination.
"All this bill does is provide necessary protections for individuals to prevent adverse treatment from the state based on religious beliefs regarding marriage. This legislation does not allow a restaurant or industry to refuse service to a gay or lesbian person," CBS News quoted him as saying.
