After 39-hours of Democratic filibuster, Missouri Republicans utilized a parliamentary maneuver to vote in favor of a bill to allow faith-based discrimination in the state. Senate Joint Resolution 39, which passed 23-9 on Wednesday morning, proposes an amendment to the Missouri Constitution.
This amendment, planned to be added as a measure to the November ballot, would prevent the state from imposing a penalty on clergy or individuals who refuse services to same-sex couples based on ‘sincere’ religious beliefs. Since religious organizations and clergy are already permitted to refuse services that conflict with their religions, the bill can be seen as an attempt to give average citizens the right to exercise prejudice based on their personal beliefs.
The bill specifies that it protects “an individual who declines, due to sincere religious beliefs, to provide goods of expressional or artistic creation for a same sex wedding or wedding reception.”
Sen. Bob Onder sponsored the bill. He claims the amendment is meant to be defend religious rights, and not as a gateway to discriminate against the civil liberties of same-sex couples. Missouri ACLU Executive Director, Jeffrey Mittman, disagreed:
“This bill would enshrine discrimination in our state constitution by allowing taxpayer-funded organizations like adoption and foster care agencies and homeless shelters to refuse serving LGBT families, in addition to countless other harmful consequences.”
Late on Monday, members of the Senate’s Democratic minority decided to filibuster in order to draw more attention to the bill before it could be quietly passed by senate republicans. For nearly 40 hours all business in the chamber was halted as Democrats spoke on a myriad of topics, including George Washington, Tyler Perry movies, and even a bit of Star Wars trivia.
Senate Minority Floor Leader, Joseph Keaveny, participated in opposition to the bill.
“This resolution is a national embarrassment for Missouri. Senate Joint Resolution 39 has the potential to be detrimental to our state’s economy, tourism and businesses willingness to relocate to Missouri. My colleagues and I will continue this fight until every Missouri citizen is treated [as] equal.”
The amendment will be voted on again, next week in the Senate, before it can be passed to the lower house for approval by the Republican majority. From there it will be up to Missouri voters to decide if they want their state to condone bigotry for the sake of not having to offer services to fellow citizens based on their sexual orientation.
Featured image by Jim Bowen, available under a Creative Commons 2.0 license.
