An Idaho Republican is backing a bill
which would allow state-licensed professionals to discriminate
against gays.
Idaho Rep. Lynn Luker's bill would
allow professionals to refuse service or employment based on their
religious beliefs.
“This bill prohibits government from
denying, revoking or suspending any professional or occupational
license or registration based upon actions involving the exercise or
expression of sincerely held religious beliefs,” House Bill 426's
summary reads.
In speaking with CBS
affiliate KBOI, Luker cited an Oregon case involving a baker and
a New Mexico case involving a photographer as a catalyst for his
proposal. In both of those cases, the business owners refused to
serve a gay couple in violation of the state's anti-discrimination
laws.
Idaho's Human Right Act, however, does
not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and
Republican lawmakers have blocked efforts to update the law.
“This is pre-emptive,” Luker said.
“The issue is coming, whether it's 10 years, or 15 years, or two
years.”
The Christian conservative Cornerstone
Family Council has endorsed Luker's proposal.
“The free expression of religious
freedom is no longer understood for what it was intended,” said
Julie Lynde, the group's executive director. “There's a double
standard against people of traditional religious faiths.”
Monica Hopkins, executive director of
the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho, criticized the measure:
“This is a solution searching for a problem.”
(Related: Kansas
House OK's bill seeking to allow businesses to discriminate against
gays.)