Former Congressman Barney Frank on
Wednesday called a controversial bill in Arizona “stupid.”
The measure, known as SB 1062, states
that individuals and businesses can refuse service based on their
religious beliefs. Opponents have called the measure a license to
discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Governor
Jan Brewer denied reports that she had decided to veto the bill.
(Related: Apple,
which is investing heavily in Arizona, calls on Gov. Jan Brewer to
veto SB 1062.)
“Oh it's a license for anybody to
engage in discrimination as long as they cite religion,” Frank said
during an interview on CNBC Asia's The Call. “And, as you
correctly point out, it doesn't mention gay rights. Now obviously
that was part of the motivation. But there are people who have
religious objections to Jewish people. We had a long tradition in
America, sadly, where racial segregation was justified on religious
grounds. People found objections to race mixing, they called it.
There are people who don't like Mormons. There are people who have
objections to divorce. This ridiculous bill, which I'm just reading
over and I'm appalled at how stupid it is.”
Frank, who has the distinction of being
the first openly gay member of Congress and the first to enter a
marriage with a member of the same sex, added: “What it says is, if
you have a religious objection to any law in Arizona, you don't have
to obey that law. I mean that's essentially it, any general law.”
(Watch
the entire segment at CNBC.)