Arizona Legislature passed a bill that would allow business owners to deny service to gay/lesbian, as long as they assert their religious beliefs. Not surprisingly, this bill has received strong opposition from both democrats, and members of the LGBT community. However, many people outside of these groups also fear that this bill may open the door to more types of discrimination. The American Civil Liberties Union summed up the beliefs of many, stating that the bill is "unnecessary and discriminatory". The LGBT group planned a protest march on the governor's office, which rallied about 200 Arizona locals. However, Gov. Jan Brewer holds strong in the belief that a business owner has the right refuse service to anyone that they please.
Most of our current unit has been about interest groups, and how they can affect politics. In this article, two different interest groups presented their beliefs on the bill, and their plans to fight against it. Both the LGBT group and the ACLU believe that this bill is an outright abomination. However, freedom of religion is being used to allow this discrimination. This bill reminds me of the civil rights days, when business owners were allowed to refuse service to people of the African American community. However, Republicans will continue to support the bill on the basis of first amendment rights.
Article: http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/21/us/arizona-anti-gay-bill/
Most of our current unit has been about interest groups, and how they can affect politics. In this article, two different interest groups presented their beliefs on the bill, and their plans to fight against it. Both the LGBT group and the ACLU believe that this bill is an outright abomination. However, freedom of religion is being used to allow this discrimination. This bill reminds me of the civil rights days, when business owners were allowed to refuse service to people of the African American community. However, Republicans will continue to support the bill on the basis of first amendment rights.
Article: http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/21/us/arizona-anti-gay-bill/