February 23rd, 2011
Montana’s House voted 60-30 to pass House Bill 516, which would prohibit any local government from passing any anti-discrimination ordinances to protect LGBT people. The bill, written by Tea Party-backed Rep Kristin Hansen (R-Havre), was written in response to a 2010 Missoula ordinance that bans discrimination against city residents based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. The bill faces a final vote in the House before moving on to the Senate.
Hansen represents the branch of the G.O.P. which advocates for local control of important issues which impact the community without interference from higher levels of government, except for where they don’t.
Update: During testimony for Hansen’s bill in the Montana House Judiciary Committee, pastor Harris Himes of the Hamilton, MT’s Big Sky Christian Center and an attorney for the Alliance Defense Fund, testified in defense of HB516, saying that LGBT people should be discriminated against because the Bibles condemns them to death:
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EZam
February 23rd, 2011
Why the hell aren’t these kinds of bills challenged in courts?
Zapf
February 23rd, 2011
I expect this bill will be challenged in court as against the holding in Romer V. Evans. Colorado Amendment 2 struck down local equal-rights ordinances, and the Supreme Court said that was unconstitutional.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romer_v._Evans
Regan DuCasse
February 23rd, 2011
What do people think they are proving by running up these bills all the time? Why should a gay citizen have to go to court to have what is all other citizen’s BIRTHRIGHT?
No one is trying to exempt gay people from ALL the responsibilities of being a citizen.
Where are the Constitutional provisions requiring protection from the tyranny of a majority?
And at the foundation of all this, those who spend so much of their time and tax payer money (some of which gay citizen’s own taxes are being turned against them), requires opposing energy wasted that is better spent on something else more important.
Straight people’s own lives, marriages, children and futures are not improved by continued discriminatory policies against gay people.
There is no moral commitment here, as gay citizens are not a detrimental factor.
Taking aim and making gay people fodder for open season is too much like what happened against Jews and blacks. The resemblance to the results, and the lack of justification is chilling and frustrating.
Gay people, like Jews and blacks, are a minority where the majority is TAUGHT and trained over a lifetime to be suspicious and hostile to gay people.
It’s not NATURAL to feel this way, and no one could really explain WHY they feel this way, but for the early training they’ve received.
They only know they WANT to follow those orders, and don’t have to care or are absolved from caring about the damage and consequences.
The way the majorities all over Europe so easily turned on Jews, and then other minorities later.
It’s a fair comparison. Our world witnessed what could happen when such propaganda and laws are allowed their EXTREME conclusion.
But WHY WAIT for it to get to that point or assume it won’t?
This war on gay people, who are not now, nor ever have been the enemies of anyone or anything is appalling.
There is no shame in those who are waging it, and they are so heartless as to think they are doing a good thing.
Their ignorance of history and vulnerable minorities is unforgivable.
Truly.
KZ
February 23rd, 2011
Why is it when someone opposes any form of LGBT rights, s/he must quote Leviticus?
Why aren’t these people out with the Westboro Cult advocating for our deaths?
Iamposterity
February 23rd, 2011
Where is the protection of Freedom of Religion and Separation of Church and state? This sounds like they are trying to pose laws that are based on the judeo christian bible where our laws are based on the Athenian System of democracy posed by the Greek Philosopher Solon.
These 10 Commandments are way more appealing to God!
The Ten Commandments of Solon (founder of Athenian democracy)
1. Trust good character more than promises.
2. Do not speak falsely.
3. Do good things.
4. Do not be hasty in making friends, but do not abandon them once made.
5. Learn to obey before you command.
6. When giving advice, do not recommend what is most pleasing, but what is most useful.
7. Make reason your supreme commander.
8. Do not associate with people who do bad things.
9. Honor the gods.
10. Have regard for your parents.
Rob San Diego
February 23rd, 2011
I’ve said it from the beggining, don’t let these Tea Baggers fool you. Being Republicans wearing sheeps clothing, they are only interested in limited government when it involves them, however they will legislate and enforce new government rules when it comes to us.
Where is the constitution in all of this? This new stupid law shouldn’t even have to be challenged in the courts, because it is already illegal, and every judge should turn to Montana and say, your new law is off the books, end of story!
I love how they never quote the bible passages that talk about adultery, stealing, lying, and all the other great things that heterosexuals do.
Rob San Diego
February 23rd, 2011
Oh so funny, I just watched Glen Beck mention the 2 Iranian teenagers who were hanged in 2005 for being gay and how barbaric it is to be stoned to death. No mention however of Montana’s law.
Guffey
February 23rd, 2011
If I remember right, Amendment 2 prohibited persons (LGBT) from using the court system, thus unconstitutional. If this law is written similarly it should be a no-brainer. I hope, I hope.
Edwin
February 23rd, 2011
We have all the birth rights as hetros. have all our life if we stay in the closet’s. But since we don’t stay there the hetro’s don’t want us to be able to have the rights. They need to learn to mind their own business.
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