Religious Conservatives in Arizona Cheer Bill Allowing Businesses to Refuse Service to Gays

On Thursday, lawmakers in Arizona passed a bill that would allow businesses to refuse service on the basis of religious beliefs. Of course, this measure primarily targets gay couples and their wedding celebrations. Arizona Governor Jan Brewer now must decide whether to sign this legislation that would allow these businesses 'to cite religious beliefs as a legal justification for denying service to same-sex couples' (NYT). The bill is backed by the Center for Arizona Policy, a conservative organization that is against abortion and same-sex marriage. It claims to see a 'growing hostility' towards religion, while gay rights groups denounce it as a 'license for discrimination.'

Next month the Supreme Court will hear two cases where businesses are refusing, on religious belief claims, to provide employees with insurance coverage for contraception.

Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Oklahoma have had similar religious protection bills introduced, and Idaho, Ohio and Kansas had similar bills stalled. Arizona has been the only state to  pass successfully this type of legislation. Gay rights advocates and gay couples have stated that a difference exists between the individual religious rights of citizens and their ability to impose those rights in a business environment by refusing to serve others who disagree.

Governor Brewer is currently serving her last term as Arizona's governor, and has tried to think about Arizona's fiscal future as well as its legislative present.

Is Governor Brewer likely to sign this bill into law? Should this occur, doubtless a Supreme Court argument will ensue. What do you think of this attempt to couch discrimination and hatred in terms of religious freedom?

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