AT&T and Dow Chemical are among the
companies opposed to passage of a “religious freedom” bill in
West Virginia.
The West Virginia House of Delegates
last week overwhelmingly approved the proposal, sending it to the
Senate.
Supporters of the West Virginia
Religious Freedom Restoration Act (HB 4012) argue that it's needed to
protect the free exercise of religion.
The bill states that the state “may
not substantially burden a person's right to exercise of religion”
without a “compelling interest.”
Some backers have directly linked the
bill to gay rights.
The constitution “doesn't guarantee
anyone's right to have any particular kind of lifestyle or behavior
protected,” said House Majority Whip John O'Neal, a Republican from
Raleigh,”but it guarantees the free exercise of religion. That
freedom has been severely curtailed in recent years with the growth
of gay rights and mandated contraception coverage under Obamacare,
among other things.”
(Related: West
Virginia Republican John O'Neal: Christians can lose their businesses
over “who they love.”)
AT&T spokesman Daniel Langan told
the AP: “Legislation that would permit discrimination against
any of our employees or customers conflicts with our core values.”
Other companies opposed to the bill
include Dow Chemical Co., West Virginia American Water, Charleston
and Morgantown chambers of commerce, the Huntington visitors bureau
and the Marriott and Embassy Suites in Charleston.