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Louisiana Lawmaker Introduces 'Religious Freedom' Bill

Louisiana Lawmaker Introduces 'Religious Freedom' Bill

Mike-johnson-louisiana-x400

The national outcry over antigay 'religious discrimination' bills isn't deterring Rep. Mike Johnson.

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A Republican member of Louisiana's legislature has filed a "religious freedom" bill that would allow business owners to discriminate against gays and lesbians if they object to marriage equality on "moral" grounds, LGBTQNation reports.

The bill, known as HB 707, will be considered when the Louisiana legislative session begins April 13. The proposal from Rep. Mike Johnson, who represents parts of northwest Louisiana, would shield businesses from penalties if they turned away LGBT people.

Unsurprisingly, Equality Louisiana blasted HB 707. "While the bill clearly is targeting gay and transgender people by focusing on religious beliefs about marriage, it is also creating the possibility of unintended consequences," the organization said in a statement. "HB 707 aims to make actions legal -- such as denying the same sex spouse of an employee access to life-saving benefits such as health insurance. It may, however, also open the door to the possibility of denying those same benefits to couples in which one partner has been divorced, interracial couples and married couples from different religious traditions than their employers."

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Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.
Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.