The Texas legislature revived anti-LGBTQ House Bill 3172 as Senate Bill 1978, and the legislation has now passed in both chambers.
SB 1978 seeks to protect businesses and individuals from being penalized by city or government officials if they donate to, or are affiliated with, religious organizations that are known to discriminate against LGBTQ people.
It was dubbed the #SaveChickFilA bill after the San Antonio City Council voted to block inclusion of the fast-food restaurant at the San Antonio airport due to a history of anti-LGBTQ donations.
After members of the House LGBTQ caucus successfully killed the bill in that chamber, Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) filed an amended version in the state Senate.
Hughes contends the bill doesn’t contain “an ounce of discrimination.”
But state Rep. Celia Israel (D-Austin) said on the floor of the House, “It’s been cloaked religious freedom, but the genesis, the nexus of this bill, is in hatred.”
State Rep. Mary Gonzalez (D-Clint), who chairs the House LGBTQ Caucus, said the bill “perpetuates the rhetoric that leads to discrimination, to hate and ultimately bullying that leads to the consequence of people dying.”
The legislation was quickly passed in the Senate and sent to the House where the Austin Chronicle reports the bill was approved today by a vote of 79-64.
An amendment added to the bill in the House requires one more vote by the Senate, where it’s expected to pass.
Then the legislation heads to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott, who has signaled he plans on signing the bill into law.
So. What are the odds I’ll sign the Chick-fil-A bill?
I’ll let you know after dinner.
@ChickfilA #txlege pic.twitter.com/xKS3vDV4gS
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 21, 2019
What is going to be very interesting is when this bill is used on the people the same way the intended it be used. Meaning a gay group or person decides not to provide services to an Evangelical group. Of course that group will claim Christian victimization and complain how their rights are being violated. This is just another bill to legally allow discriminate. I know that I being a gay man denied a Christian person the ability to rent one of my properties they could claim I was discriminating and I would then tell them I’m exercising my beliefs and mine are different than yours and I’m not renting to you on that reasoning! The thing is that it is OK for them to discriminate but you are not allowed to discriminate against them, that is the part we should be most concerned with. The City of San Antonio didn’t deny the Chik-Fil-A a spot at the airport because of their religious beliefs but for what they stand for is intolerance and hate as those restaurants represent the City and they didn’t want the City to be represented by that type of company and they have the right to do be able to do this as if this was a gay business that was denied and they sued you know these people would be the first one to deny them and say how foolish and stupid it is to do. This just goes to show that in 2019 hate and intolerance is still a thing! If you belong to a religion that teaches hate and intolerance then it’s time for you to find a new one that embraces acceptance and tolerance and love and joy and peace!