Kentucky 'Religious Freedom' Bill Clears Senate, Opponents Warn It May Gut Civil Rights Protections

[struggle4progress]

By Rae Hodge

After a lengthy partisan battle that lasted hours into the night, a bill that would allow Kentuckians to ignore laws that they say violate their religious beliefs cleared the state Senate ...

But various civil liberties groups say it could allow landlords and employers to use their religious beliefs to justify discrimination against employees or tenants on the grounds of race, sexual orientation, or gender ...



HB279
Government shall not substantially burden a person's freedom of religion. The right to act or refuse to act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may not be substantially burdened unless the government proves by clear and convincing evidence that it has a compelling governmental interest in infringing the specific act or refusal to act and has used the least restrictive means to further that interest. A "burden" shall include indirect burdens such as withholding benefits, assessing penalties, or an exclusion from programs or access to facilities.
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/13RS/HB279.htm

2 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Sales taxes are against my religion
	0 (0%)
	Environmental regulations are against my religion
	0 (0%)
	Speed limits are against my religion
	1 (50%)
	Construction permits are against my religion
	0 (0%)
	Zoning laws are against my religion
	0 (0%)
	Income taxes are against my religion
	0 (0%)
	Traffic lights are against my religion
	0 (0%)
	No smoking areas are against my religion
	0 (0%)
	Car inspections are against my religion
	0 (0%)
	Property taxes are against my religion
	1 (50%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[rurallib]

1. Taxes for military use are against my ethics

So is any break for organized religions (eg tax exemptions.)

[DetlefK]

5. deleted by author

[Jackpine Radical]

2. Kentucky experiences sudden mass conversions to Rasta…

Ceremonies
There are two types of Rasta religious ceremonies: Reasoning and Groundation.
Reasoning
A "reasoning" is a simple event where the Rastas gather, smoke cannabis ("ganja&quot , and discuss. The person honored by being allowed to light the herb says a short sentence beforehand, and the ganja is passed in a clockwise fashion except in times of war when it is passed counterclockwise, it is used to reason with Jah.
Groundation
A "groundation" (or "grounation&quot or "binghi" is a holy day;[21] the name "binghi" is derived from "Nyabinghi{literally "Nya" meaning "black" and "Binghi" meaning "victory&quot Hopkins 259)}]", believed to be an ancient, and now extinct, order of militant blacks in eastern Africa that vowed to end oppression. Binghis are marked by much dancing, singing, feasting, and the smoking of ganja, and can last for several days.

[CherokeeDem]

4. I'm converting today...

I think a Rasta ceremony would be the only way to survive these idiots loose in the KY legislature... my goodness, isn't having Rand Paul and McConnell bad enough...but now this. I will leave this state someday...

[Angry Dragon]

3. All the above should have been there

[DetlefK]

6. Let's join the "Church of No Ma'am"

[struggle4progress]

7. .

[Phillip McCleod]

8. and then moderate believers wonder why we atheists are so vocal lately?

maybe it's because of non-stop shit like this requiring non-stop pushback?

[cbayer]

9. Actually, the primary pushback in this case appears to be coming from the

GLBT community. Must not conflate separation advocacy with atheism. Everyone is in this together.

[edhopper]

10. Clear violatgion of the establishment clause of

the First Amendment.