Although Democrat Gov. Steve Beshear jumped aboard the homosexualists' bandwagon to veto the Kentucky Religious Freedom Act, an overwhelming bipartisan chorus in the legislature overturned the veto.
The new law is seen as a major blow by Gay Agenda advocates attempting to force Christians to celebrate homosexuality in schools, businesses, and everyday life.
For background, read State Sues Christian Florist for Being 'Anti-Gay' and also read Colorado Senator Says Christians Who Oppose 'Gay Marriage' Belong in Monastery as well as Oregon Says Christian Baker Must Do Lesbian 'Wedding'
In addition, read about the Colorado baker and myriad other Christians sued in states with same-sex unions/marriage laws.
UPDATE 2/22/14: Homosexualists Admit Goal to End Religious Liberty as Arizona Republicans Cower
-- From "Lawmakers override religious freedom veto" by Ben Finley, Associated Press 3/27/13
The law will give stronger legal standing to people in court who claim the government burdened their ability to practice their religion. The legislation protects “sincerely held religious beliefs” from infringement unless there is “a compelling governmental interest.” The courts will still consider and rule on each matter.
Democratic Gov. Steve Beshear vetoed the bill Friday over concerns that someone’s claim of religious freedom could undermine civil rights protections for gays and lesbians and lead to costly lawsuits for taxpayers.
But sponsors of the bill said it would only provide a higher level of legal protection that already exists on the federal level and in at least 16 states. They said the law isn’t intended to discriminate against anyone, adding that the courts will have the final say on each claim.
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From "Kentucky's religious freedom bill divided politicians, public, ministers" by Jack Brammerand Beth Musgrave, Lexington Herald-Leader 3/30/13
The vote in the House was 79-15; in the Senate, 32-6. Almost all of the legislators siding with the governor were from urban areas or are minorities.
Most lawmakers were afraid politically to let the governor's veto stand, said Democratic consultant Danny Briscoe of Louisville, "because they feared it would hurt their chances of getting re-elected. This state is becoming increasingly conservative, so politicians are reluctant to do anything to go against that trend."
. . . Rep. Stan Lee, R-Lexington, said House Bill 279 was needed because religious freedoms were being curtailed in Kentucky.
Prayer and the Bible have been taken out of schools, and people can no longer practice their faith in public, he said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Ky. Lawmakers Override Governor's Veto of Religious Liberties Bill" by Katherine Weber, Christian Post Reporter 3/28/13
Those supporting the bill, including the Family Foundation and the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, argue that its purpose has been skewed by interest groups and the liberal media and that it in no way threatens civil liberties.
"The ACLU and the Fairness Alliance, along with a compliant liberal media, distorted this bill beyond recognition," said Martin Cothran, spokesman for the Family Foundation, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.
"The magnitude of this vote should send a message to these groups that this kind of deception is not appreciated by the majority of the state's elected lawmakers."
Proponents of the house bill also argue that it works in accordance with the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a federal law aimed at preventing government laws which limit religious expression.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Lessons From Bruising Passage of Kentucky Religious-Freedom Bill (1079)" by Joan Frawley Desmond, National Catholic Register 4/24/13
. . . the battle underscores the growing clout of homosexual-rights activists, who have become crucial players in political coalitions in Kentucky and across the nation.
. . . as mainstream and homosexual-rights websites picked up the story, [the bill's sponsor, state Rep. Bob] Damron began getting “hate mail from people as far away as New Jersey and New York.”
By the time the bill was brought to the floor of the Kentucky House, the American Civil Liberties Union had signaled its opposition. Legislators who attacked the bill raised questions about the Catholic bishops’ motives for supporting it and expressed concern about the alleged threat it posed to individual civil rights, though these critics did not focus on any perceived fears.
The ACLU was the most prominent civil-rights group opposing the bill, joined by the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, and the Fairness Campaign, a state homosexual-rights group.
Father Patrick Delahanty, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, told the Register that the unexpected opposition to the bill underscored the growing political strength of homosexual activists.
“The gay community … has allied themselves with every progressive group in Kentucky,” he said, adding that, after the bill was introduced, it was “the time for payback: ‘We helped you, and now you have to help us.’”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "The Next Big Battle Over Gay Rights" by Wendy Kaminer, correspondent at The Atlantic 3/27/13
The battle over same-sex marriage isn’t ending. It’s morphing into a fight over religious freedom, as secular businesses and individuals claim First Amendment rights to discriminate against gay couples. Religious institutions and clergy have indisputable rights not to sanctify gay unions (or any unions to which they object for any reasons). Should wedding planners, florists, or limousine drivers enjoy similar rights to refuse to serve gay couples?
About one third of the states have enacted religious freedom laws . . . They’re modeled after the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passed by Congress in response to a 1990 Supreme Court case denying Native Americans the right to sacramental use of peyote in violation of state drug laws.
Religious Freedom Restoration Acts are controversial: If they’re consistently construed to favor individual religious beliefs over generally applicable laws, they threaten secular governance in a pluralistic nation. The federal RFRA has been invoked by secular businesses claiming exemptions from the Affordable Health Care Act’s contraceptive care mandate, and now religious conservatives are beginning to invoke state RFRA’s as defenses against same sex marriage and other rights.
Someday, perhaps in the not too distant future, gay marriage will be normalized in many states (as it is in Massachusetts), and overt bias against gay people will be generally unacceptable, even un-American. Someday, religious claims for exemptions from gay rights laws will decline along with the population of religious objectors. Until then their religious freedom claims will multiply and should be taken seriously — which doesn’t mean they should prevail.
To read the entire opinion column above, CLICK HERE.
In addition, read 'Gay Rights' Winning, Loss of Religious Liberty Documented - Washington Post writer demonstrates it's a "zero sum" game: Winning homosexual 'rights' means Christians must lose freedom of religion.
To prove the point, read Supreme Court Rules Bible as 'Hate Speech' in Canada
