Arkansas Passes LGBT Discrimination Bill

[DonViejo]

Source: TDB

On Friday, Arkansas’s legislature passed a bill preventing cities and counties from enacting their own laws to protect LGBT people. The state’s House of Representatives voted 57-20 to put the bill through; it has already cleared the state Senate and Gov. Asa Hutchison, a Republican, is not expected to veto it. The bill’s sponsor told BuzzFeed News that it was created to encourage consistent policies and attract businesses, and because he did not want cities expanding civil-rights laws to LGBT people. Rep. Clarke Tucker, a Democrat, called the bill a “proactive act of discrimination” on the House floor.

Read it at BuzzFeed News

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Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2015/02/13/arkansas-passes-lgbt-discrimination-bill.html

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[Arkansas Granny]

1. And to think, just a few short years ago, Arkansas was blue. Both Senators and 3 out of 4

Representatives were Democrats. Now, all are Republicans as well as the Governor. We are headed backwards. Thanks, Tea Party.

[blkmusclmachine]

2. ArKANSAS is just another state the national DEMS decided to abandon. Not worth the effort, they say

[Arkansas Granny]

3. And we'll all suffer for it.

[Politicub]

4. This kind of thing is terrifying

It's basically sanctioning outright hostility to LGBT folk.

I hope we're witnessing the death rattles of the bigots. Still, it's very unnerving.

[msongs]

5. christians declare war on lgbt people...again nt

[RKP5637]

7. Ain't religion just great! Join a religion AKA now a front sometimes for hatred and bigotry. n/t

[SoapBox]

16. I always think of it as declaring war on Americans.

[RKP5637]

6. So sad to see a confirmation of so many bigots and haters. I would never move my business

to Arkansas. We did that in another state and then pulled the company out when that state confirmed its bigotry and hatred against many people including minorities and the poor. Who wants their business associated with a hateful bigoted state. Attract businesses? Many businesses want nothing to do with hateful bigots. These jerks are wrecking Arkansas.

[Dawson Leery]

8. Stay out of Arkansas and feel free to boycott any Arkansas based businesses.

[Beacool]

9. Damn depressing!!!

Once again proving that voting, or sitting on one's hands and not voting because the Democratic candidate was not the preferred one, DO have consequences. Let this be a lesson to all those who think that there's no difference between a Blue Dog Democrat and a Republican.

[SpankMe]

10. Oh, what the fuck!? n/t

[uppityperson]

11. State says locally they can not pass bills protecting LGBT people? Can they do that?

Fed trumps state, state trumps more local, but can they say lower down can not do more to prevent discrimination? That seems very backwards.

Asses.

[Iliyah]

12. This eff-uped law, ruling, whatever will be contested and probably

go to the Supreme Court. Its important that a Dem and or another progressive person wins the WH. The tea party assholes believe that their GAWD trumps my God and of course the US Constitution.

[geomon666]

13. This is completely disgusting.

Openly advocating for discrimination against LGBT people from state officials. What's next Arkansas, will gays have their own drinking fountains?

[sinkingfeeling]

14. After 23 years of living in Fayetteville, AR, I'm going to be leaving.

[janlyn]

15. My city was the start.

We wanted to give people in our community protection from discrimination. Even our local fanatics the Duggars got involved. I had a preacher block my car as well as the mans next to me, who then tried to push his pamphlet on us. Needless to say I told him to move his damn car. Unfortunately the religious fanatics got their way.
I personally will not be quiet on this issue, I have family who are part of the LGBTcommunity here, and I stand behind them 100%!

[SoapBox]

17. How can this stuff be legal?

Especially since Marriage Equality is going to eventually be Nationwide...how can you legislate discrimination against American citizens, in this day and age?

You can't legislate hate!

[YOHABLO]

18. There are probably a lot of LGBTQ people that would rather live somewhere else but can't leave.

Many have family there, and jobs etc. So rather than boycotting, let's all jump in the van and get our asses to Arkansas and raise some holy hell. And we can bring Bill and Hillary along with us.