Post by Logan on Feb 17, 2016 0:54:22 GMT -6
The House of Delegates voted Tuesday to grant broad protections to private entities that hold religious views against gay marriage, transgender people and those who have sex outside of marriage.
Supporters said the controversial bill, approved on a 56-41 vote, would prevent government persecution of people of faith, but critics said it would allow some Virginians to be treated as “second-class citizens.”
Gov. Terry McAuliffe is expected to block the legislation, but the floor vote offered a test of the Republican-controlled chamber’s appetite to take on a red-hot social issue. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting against House Bill 773, titled the Government Non-Discrimination Act. Three Republicans did not vote.
The bill’s patron — Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah — said the measure would prevent government agencies from taking punitive action against religious people, businesses and groups as part what he described as an activist push to drive religion from public life.
Read more: www.richmond.com/news/virginia/article_c702ea1f-0e32-501d-a4ac-3d1c9744ad30.html
Supporters said the controversial bill, approved on a 56-41 vote, would prevent government persecution of people of faith, but critics said it would allow some Virginians to be treated as “second-class citizens.”
Gov. Terry McAuliffe is expected to block the legislation, but the floor vote offered a test of the Republican-controlled chamber’s appetite to take on a red-hot social issue. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in voting against House Bill 773, titled the Government Non-Discrimination Act. Three Republicans did not vote.
The bill’s patron — Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah — said the measure would prevent government agencies from taking punitive action against religious people, businesses and groups as part what he described as an activist push to drive religion from public life.
Read more: www.richmond.com/news/virginia/article_c702ea1f-0e32-501d-a4ac-3d1c9744ad30.html