State senate panel passes LGBT discrimination bill

A Senate panel passed a bill that would protect those who discriminate based on marriage, lifestyle or behavior.

Dubbed the “Oklahoma Right of Conscience Act,” Senate Bill 197 heads to the Senate floor for consideration. Sen. Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow, is the author.

The measure “will give business owners and government employees a free pass to refuse to do business or provide vital services for LGBTQ individuals and groups,” said Toby Jenkins, Oklahomans for Equality executive director. “If this bill becomes law, day-to-day life will become treacherous and dangerous. LGBTQ Oklahomans won’t know where to buy food, where to live or where to seek medical services because a simple trip to the grocery store might have the door slammed in your face.”

Troy Stevenson, Freedom Oklahoma executive director, said lawmakers should be focused on the recent revenue failure but instead are pushing a bill that will result in companies refusing to locate in Oklahoma.

He said if the bill is signed into law, there will be a lawsuit.

He said the bill doesn’t just deal with religious beliefs, but all beliefs.

“I think the bill protects discrimination not just against LGBT Oklahomans,” Stevenson said. “I think the bill codifies discrimination against an untold number of demographics, divorced couples, interracial couples. This bill is the most discriminatory piece of legislation we have seen in the country in a very long time.”

Silk said the bill protects “everybody’s right of conscience and prohibits the state from forcing people to violate their conscience when it comes to marriage, lifestyle and behavior.”

He said everyone benefits from his bill.

He said if a Muslim has a catering business, the owner should have the right to refuse to participate in a function that involves handling pork.

He said the measure is not a license to discriminate nor does it target members of the LGBT community.

Silk said he believes the bill would result in business growth because it could deter lawsuits, though no suits have been filed in Oklahoma yet.

“It protects everybody,” Silk said. “It doesn’t exclude anybody.”