GOP lawmakers in Washington State have introduced a bill on Thursday that would allow for an exemption to the state's anti-discrimination laws. The bill is in direct response to legal action taken against a florist who refused to provide service for a gay couple's wedding according to the Associated Press.
Sen. Sharon Brown introduced the bill that would allow for businesses to refuse service in cases that went against their "sincerely held religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs, or matters of conscience."
Federal law protects people from being denied service based on religion, race or disability and this bill would not supersede those federal protections.
The American Civil Liberties Union recently filed a suit on behalf of Robert Ingersall and Curt Freed. The two men attempted to purchase flowers for their wedding at Arlene's Flowers and Gifts in Richland but were turned away by owner Baronelle Stutzman.
Washington passed state laws to protect discrimination based on sexual orientation in 2006 and the bill introduced by Sen. Brown is seen as an attempt to ignore those protections according to Josh Friedes, a spokesman for Equal Rights Washington.
"It's discrimination, pure and simple," Friedes said. "It undermines our entire approach to ensuring the equality of all Washingtonians in commerce."
Sen. Brown asserts that there was a "glaring lack of protection for religion" in state law and that this bill would ensure that religious freedoms were protected. When questioned about whether or not the bill would infringe upon the civil rights of gays and lesbians she was dismissive.
"The citizens of the state clearly weighed in on that issue," Brown said. "It's intended to protect religious freedoms."
Sen. Kevin Ranker took exception to the idea that this bill was protecting religious rights.
"If you own a business in our state and don't like gay people because of religious beliefs, philosophical beliefs or just because you don't, you will no longer have to provide services or sell your goods to any gay people," Ranker said. "How's that for progress?"
