Oklahoma State Rep. Sally Kern has
withdrawn a bill that would have allowed businesses to refuse service
to any lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person or group.
Kern said in a statement that she
withdrew the bill because it did not accomplish what she intended.
“Across the country, business owners
are being sued by individuals who are asking the owner to perform a
service or provide a product that is contrary to their deeply held
religious beliefs,” she said. “When these business owners have
refused because of conscience, they were then sued having to face
legal battles that resulted in their losing their business and even
facing jail. I wanted a tort bill that limited damages between the
business owner and the customer ensuring that the business owner
would not lose their livelihood.”
Kern said that she would back similar
bills introduced by colleagues.
“I will support the efforts of my
colleagues who have introduced bills that do what I intended,” she
said. “I will work with the governor, the speaker of the House and
Senate pro tempore to protect the business interests of our state so
that all our citizens who take the risk of opening a business can
prosper and thrive.”
Other legislative proposals introduced
by Kern include cutting off government funding for the licensing or
support of gay couples' marriages and allowing parents to seek
therapy to change an LGBT teen's sexuality without state
interference.