The recent Orlando massacre has once again highlighted the sickening ease in which unbalanced and dangerous individuals can access weapons of mass destruction in the United States. It is unnecessary to point out the multiple reasons why this latest mass murderer should never have been allowed to possess any firearms. That has been done and predictably the pro-murder lobby is responding as expected
But this is something that must not be lost in the roar of outrage and demand that something be done.
Below is a list from 2016 and 2015 of all the legislation that was attempted or passed in the individual states designed to strip LGBT Americans of civil and human rights and to isolate them for discrimination. It took up to 14 pages in Word when I was composing this diary. The fact that many of these pieces of legislation failed is irrelevant. What is important to remember is that their sponsors and the governments they represent felt empowered enough, secure enough, and sure enough to make the attempt.
2016
*Active: A bill is marked Active if it was originally introduced or prefiled in 2015 and will be carried over into the 2016 legislative sesion. The date indicates when the 2016 session will begin.
Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Make it easier for people to demand exemptions to generally applicable laws, by allowing lawsuits challenging any governmental policy, such as nondiscrimination laws, that someone says substantially burden their religious beliefs. The government must prove that enforcing the policy is the least restrictive way of furthering a compelling governmental interest.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
CO
|
|
HB 1180
|
|
5/11/2016: Dead
|
GA
|
|
HB 29
|
|
3/24/2016: Dead
|
GA
|
|
HB 218
|
|
3/24/2016: Dead
|
GA
|
|
SB 129
|
|
3/24/2016: Dead
|
HI
|
|
HB 1160
|
|
5/5/2016: Dead
|
IN
|
|
SB 66
|
|
3/14/2016: Dead
|
IA
|
|
HF 2032
|
|
4/29/2016: Dead
|
IA
|
|
HF 2200
|
|
4/29/2016: Dead
|
IA
|
|
SF 2171
|
|
4/29/2016: Dead
|
ME
|
|
LD 1340
|
|
4/20/2016: Dead
|
MI
|
|
SB 4
|
|
1/13/2016: Active
|
MS
|
|
SB 2093
|
|
4/24/2016: Dead
|
MS
|
|
SB 2822
|
|
4/24/2016: Dead
|
NC
|
|
HB 348/SB 550
|
|
5/11/2016: Active
|
NM
|
|
HB 55
|
|
2/18/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
HB 1371
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
SB 440
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
SB 723
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
SB 898
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
WV
|
|
HB 2508
|
|
3/15/2016: Dead
|
WV
|
|
HB 4012
|
|
3/15/2016: Dead
|
WV
|
|
SB 11
|
|
3/15/2016: Dead
|
Marriage-related Religious Exemption Laws
These bills allow different kinds of religiously based exemptions regarding marriage. Some of these bills apply to religious organizations, while others apply solely to commercial entities or government officials. While there are often variations in the individual bills, general descriptions are provided below. Some bills explicitly target same sex couples, and others would allow an exemption to act as to any marriage.
a. First Amendment Defense Acts
Allows anyone - including government employees, contractors, and for profit businesses – to act with impunity based on a religious or moral belief objection to marriage for same-sex couples, or to sexual relationships outside of a heterosexual marriage. This would open the door to unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination. For example, government employees, government contractors or grantees – including those providing important social services services like homeless shelters or drug treatment programs -- could discriminate against married same-sex couples and their families, single mothers, or anyone who has a sexual relationship outside of a marriage.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
GA
|
|
HB 757
|
|
3/28/2016: Vetoed by Governor
|
GA
|
|
SB 284
|
|
3/24/2016: Dead
|
HI
|
|
HB 2532
|
|
5/5/2016: Dead
|
IL
|
|
SB 2164
|
|
5/31/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
SB 440
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
WA
|
|
HB 2631
|
|
3/29/2016: Dead
|
WY
|
|
HB 98
|
|
2/11/2016: Dead
|
b. Government Employees
Allow certain people authorized by the state, including magistrates, judges, and /or clerks, to refuse to perform marriages and/or issue marriage licenses.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
FL
|
|
HB 401
|
|
3/11/2016: Dead
|
KY
|
|
HB 17
|
|
4/15/2016: Dead
|
KY
|
|
HB 14
|
|
4/15/2016: Dead
|
MN
|
|
SF 2158
|
|
5/23/2016: Dead
|
MS
|
|
HB 586
|
|
4/24/2016: Dead
|
MS
|
|
HB 1342
|
|
4/24/2016: Dead
|
SC
|
|
SB 116
|
|
1/12/2016: Active
|
VA
|
|
SB 40
|
|
3/11/2016: Dead
|
c. Commercial Wedding Services
Allow businesses open to the public and individuals associated with such businesses to refuse to provide goods and services relating to marriage. Some of these bills are limited to allowing discrimination only against same-sex couples, while others would authorize discrimination against any kind of marriage to which a business owner might object.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
FL
|
|
HB 401
|
|
3/11/2016: Dead
|
GA
|
|
HB 756
|
|
3/24/2016: Dead
|
KY
|
|
SB 180
|
|
4/15/2016: Dead
|
MI
|
|
HB 4855
|
|
1/13/2016: Active
|
MN
|
|
SF 2158
|
|
5/23/2016: Dead
|
MO
|
|
HJR 97/SJR 39
|
|
4/27/2016: Dead
|
NM
|
|
HB 55
|
|
2/18/2016: Dead
|
OH
|
|
HB 296
|
|
1/4/2016: Active
|
d. Pastor Protection Acts
Allow clergy, churches, and other religious organizations to refuse to perform marriages or provide wedding-related services to marriages to which they have religious objections.
e. Other Marriage Exemption Bills
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
IN
|
|
HB 1041
|
|
3/14/2016: Dead
|
KY
|
|
HB 31
|
|
4/15/2016: Dead
|
MI
|
|
HB 4733
|
|
1/13/2016: Active
|
MO
|
|
HB 2754
|
|
5/13/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
HB 1125
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
HB 1599
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
SB 478
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
HJR 1059
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
SB 973
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
SC
|
|
H 3022
|
|
1/12/2016: Active
|
SC
|
|
H 3150
|
|
1/12/2016: Active
|
SC
|
|
H 4513
|
|
1/12/2016: Introduced
|
Adoption & Foster Care
Adoption and foster care agencies could refuse to provide any adoption services that would conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of the agency, regardless of the best interests of the children in their care.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
AL
|
|
HB 158/SB 204
|
|
5/4/2016: Dead
|
FL
|
|
HB 401
|
|
3/11/2016: Dead
|
NE
|
|
LB 975
|
|
4/20/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
HJR 1059
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
HB 2428
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
Colleges & University Student Groups
Requires public colleges and universities to give benefits, including access to funding and the use of facilities, to student organizations even if the organization discriminates based on their religious beliefs.
Access to Health Services
Legislation would allow those with religious objections to undermine professional standards that apply equally to everyone. For instance, a high school guidance counselor could refuse to counsel a gay teenager, citing their sincerely held religious beliefs.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
AK
|
|
HB 325
|
|
2/22/2016: Introduced
|
FL
|
|
HB 401
|
|
3/11/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
HJR 1059
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
TN
|
|
HB 566/SB 397
|
|
4/22/2016: Dead
|
TN
|
|
HB 1840/SB 1556
|
|
4/22/2016: Dead
|
Other Exemption Bills
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
HI
|
|
HB 2181
|
|
5/5/2016: Dead
|
HI
|
|
HB 1337/SB 940
|
|
5/5/2016: Dead
|
HI
|
|
HB 2764
|
|
5/5/2016: Dead
|
IA
|
|
HF 2207/SF 2211
|
|
4/29/2016: Dead
|
IA
|
|
SF 2043
|
|
4/29/2016: Dead
|
IA
|
|
SF 2044
|
|
4/29/2016: Dead
|
MO
|
|
HJR 96
|
|
5/13/2016: Dead
|
MO
|
|
SB 916
|
|
5/13/2016: Dead
|
MS
|
|
HB 1523
|
|
4/5/2016: Became Law
|
OK
|
|
SB 1328
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
OK
|
|
SB 1619
|
|
5/27/2016: Dead
|
SD
|
|
HB 1107
|
|
3/29/2016: Dead
|
VA
|
|
HB 773
|
|
3/11/2016: Dead
|
WA
|
|
HB 2752
|
|
3/29/2016: Dead
|
2015
Religious Freedom Restoration Acts
Allow lawsuits against any governmental policy, such as nondiscrimination laws, that substantially burdens someone’s religious beliefs. The government must prove that enforcing the policy is the least restrictive way of furthering a compelling governmental interest.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
AR
|
|
HB 1228
|
|
3/27/2015: Dead
|
AR
|
|
SB 975
|
|
4/2/2015: Became Law
|
CO
|
|
HB 1171
|
|
3/9/2015: Dead
|
GA
|
|
HB 29
|
|
4/2/2014: Dead
|
GA
|
|
HB 218
|
|
4/2/2015: Dead
|
GA
|
|
SB 129
|
|
4/2/2015: Dead
|
HI
|
|
HB 1160
|
|
5/7/2015: Dead
|
IN
|
|
HB 1632
|
|
2/25/2015: Dead
|
IN
|
|
SB 101
|
|
3/26/2015: Became Law
|
IN
|
|
SB 568
|
|
2/25/2015: Dead
|
ME
|
|
LD 1340
|
|
4/16/2015: Dead
|
MI
|
|
SB 4
|
|
1/20/2015: Introduced
|
MT
|
|
HB 615
|
|
3/27/2015: Dead
|
NC
|
|
HB 348
|
|
9/30/2015: Dead
|
NC
|
|
SB 550
|
|
9/30/2015: Dead
|
NV
|
|
AB 277
|
|
4/10/2015: Dead
|
NV
|
|
SB 272
|
|
4/10/2015: Dead
|
OK
|
|
SB 723
|
|
2/26/2015: Dead
|
SD
|
|
HB 1220
|
|
2/24/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
HJR 55
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
HJR 125
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
SJR 10
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
UT
|
|
HB 322
|
|
3/12/2015: Dead
|
WV
|
|
HB 2508
|
|
3/1/2015: Dead
|
WV
|
|
HB 2830
|
|
3/1/2015: Dead
|
WV
|
|
SB 487
|
|
3/1/2015: Dead
|
WY
|
|
HB 83
|
|
3/3/2015: Dead
|
Marriage Refusals
These bills allow different kinds of refusals regarding marriage. They vary from state to state, but in general, do one or more of the following: Allow certain people authorized by the state, such as magistrates, judges, clerks and/or clergy, to refuse to perform marriages and/or issue marriage licenses. Other bills attempt to override the federal courts' constitutional decisions on marriage for same-sex couples. Other bills allow individuals, businesses and/or religious organizations to refuse to provide goods and services relating to marriage, and/or refuse to treat marriages as valid based on their religious beliefs. Some of these bills target same sex couples, others would allow a refusal to act as to any kind of marriage.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
AL
|
|
HB 56
|
|
6/4/2015: Dead
|
AR
|
|
HB 1879
|
|
3/27/2015: Dead
|
IL
|
|
SB 2164
|
|
7/28/2015: Introduced
|
LA
|
|
HB 707
|
|
5/20/2015: Dead
|
MO
|
|
HB 1337
|
|
5/15/2015: Dead
|
MO
|
|
SB 555
|
|
5/15/2015: Dead
|
MN
|
|
SF 2158
|
|
5/18/2015: Dead
|
NC
|
|
SB 2
|
|
6/11/2015: Became Law
|
OK
|
|
HB 1371
|
|
3/12/2015: Dead
|
OK
|
|
HB 1597
|
|
2/26/2015: Dead
|
OK
|
|
HB 1599
|
|
3/12/2015: Dead
|
OK
|
|
SB 440
|
|
2/26/2015: Dead
|
OK
|
|
SB 478
|
|
2/26/2015: Dead
|
SC
|
|
HB 3022
|
|
6/4/2015: Dead
|
SC
|
|
HB 3150
|
|
6/4/2015: Dead
|
SC
|
|
SB 116
|
|
6/4/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
HB 623
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
HB 3567
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
HB 3602
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
SB 1799
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
UT
|
|
HJR 5
|
|
3/12/2015: Dead
|
UT
|
|
HB 66
|
|
3/12/2015: Dead
|
UT
|
|
SB 297
|
|
3/20/2015: Became Law
|
Adoption & Foster Care
Adoption and foster care agencies could refuse to provide any adoption services that would conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of the agency, regardless of the best interests of the children in their care.
Access to Health Services
Legislation would allow those with religious objections to undermine professional standards that apply equally to everyone. For instance, a high school guidance counselor could refuse to counsel a gay teenager, citing their sincerely held religious beliefs.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
TN
|
|
HB 566
|
|
4/22/2015: Dead
|
TN
|
|
SB 397
|
|
4/22/2015: Dead
|
VA
|
|
HB 1414
|
|
2/10/2015: Dead
|
Colleges & University Student Groups
Requires public colleges and universities to give benefits, including access to funding and the use of facilities, to student organizations even if the organization discriminates based on their religious beliefs.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
CA
|
|
AB 1212
|
|
4/21/2015: Dead
|
CO
|
|
HB 1037
|
|
2/9/2015: Dead
|
KS
|
|
SB 175
|
|
6/12/2015: Dead
|
MO
|
|
HB 104
|
|
5/15/2015: Dead
|
MO
|
|
SB 248
|
|
5/15/2015: Dead
|
MS
|
|
HB 851
|
|
2/3/2015: Dead
|
Government Contractors
Contractors that discriminate in hiring, even in defiance of existing state policies, are entitled to government contracts.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
IN
|
|
SB 127
|
|
4/29/2015: Dead
|
VA
|
|
HB 1409
|
|
2/10/2015: Dead
|
Other Anti-LGBT Backlash Legislation
Other laws have been introduced as backlash to gains in equality for LGBT people. These include laws allowing businesses to discriminate, a proposal to eliminate marriage licenses altogether, and laws that would ban local nondiscrimination ordinances.
State
|
|
Bill Number
|
|
Status
|
AL
|
|
SB 4
|
|
9/16/2015: Dead
|
AR
|
|
SB 202
|
|
2/25/2015: Became Law
|
CO
|
|
HB 1161
|
|
3/9/2015: Dead
|
MS
|
|
HB 1243
|
|
2/3/2015: Dead
|
MS
|
|
SB 2801
|
|
2/3/2015: Dead
|
OK
|
|
HB 1125
|
|
5/29/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
HB 1556
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
HB 2553
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
HB 4105
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
TX
|
|
SB 1155
|
|
6/1/2015: Dead
|
WV
|
|
HB 2881
|
|
3/14/2015: Dead
|
https://www.aclu.org/anti-lgbt-religious-refusals-legislation-across-country-2015-bills
Something real has got to be done about guns in America.
But let us not forget, that something must also be done about the repeated and continuous attempts to justify the hatred and bigotry that inspired the Orlando massacre in the first place.