An effort in Montana to outlaw gay
protections laws appears to have fizzled in the Senate after winning
approval in the House, the AP reported.
Republican Representative Kristin
Hansen's bill sought to prohibit local governments from enacting laws
banning discrimination beyond those classifications listed in the
state's Human Rights Act, which does not include sexual orientation
or gender identity.
The bill's target was Missoula, the
state's second largest city, which approved such an ordinance last
year.
The measure enjoyed overwhelming
support in the House, where sixty GOP members united to overcome the
objections of 32 Democrats and 7 Republicans in approving the
legislation earlier this month.
Senator Jon Sonju told the AP that the
bill has been returned to the Local Government Committee he chairs.
The bill cleared the committee last week.
Sonju said the measure was shelved
because it does not have the support of Senate leaders.
Last week, the
transgender rights group Transgender Legal Defense & Education
Fund called on the Montana Senate to reject the proposal, arguing
that the law was motivated “solely by animus towards transgender
and gay people.”