Arizona Law Allows Business Owners to Deny LGBT Customers on Religious Grounds

A bill that allows business owners to turn away LGBT customers has passed in Arizona's Legislature.

The proposed law, which made it through the state's House of Representatives with 33-27 votes on Thursday, states store owners can deny gay and lesbian shoppers on religious grounds, so long as their theological beliefs are clearly posted or otherwise made known.

The legislation will now move on to Republican Gov. Jan Brewer for approval or denial, CNN reported on Thursday. The politician, who once owned a small business herself, stopped a similar bill in 2013, but has commented in the past on shop owners' right to turn away certain customers as they see fit.

Many have criticized the bill, calling it unconstitutional, discriminatory, and a potential liability to the state.

"With the express consent of Republicans in this Legislature, many Arizonans will find themselves members of a separate and unequal class under this law because of their sexual orientation," State Senate Democratic Minority Leader Anna Tovar wrote in a statement. "This bill may also open the door to discriminate based on race, familial status, religion, sex, national origin, age or disability."

The Greater Phoenix Economic Council also submitted a letter to Brewer on Friday requesting that she consider the "profound, negative effects on our business community" Senate Bill 1062 could create.

"The legislation places businesses currently in Arizona, as well as those looking to locate here, in potentially damaging risk of litigation, and costly, needless legal disputes," president of the council Barry Broome wrote. "With major events approaching in the coming year, including Super Bowl XLIX, Arizona will be the center of the world's stage. This legislation has the potential of subjecting the Super Bowl, and major events surrounding it, to the threats of boycotts."

But the Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative organization pushing the bill, said the legislation will protect people against courts advocating LGBT rights.

"As we witness hositility towards people of faith grow like never before, we must take this opportunity to speak up for religious liberty," the group wrote on its website.

Center President Cathi Herrod told CNN that the bill is simple.

"American should be free to live and work according to their religious faith," Herrod stated. "It's simply about protecting religious liberty and nothing else."