HB 1228 or Anti-Gay Bill?

Congress passed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. This law prohibited the discrimination of individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Although this act was passed nearly 50 years ago it is evident that discrimination still exists in today’s society for example, the discrimination of gay groups. Although the issue of sexual orientation was not included in the Civil Rights Act, there are now laws known as “LGBT rights “ that prohibit the discrimination of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered Americans. Unfortunately, these rights and laws vary by state.

In recent news the state of Arkansas proposed and PASSED HB 1228, a bill that allows cities and counties in Arkansas from passing ordinances to protect LGBT individuals. Although the bill does not specifically mention LGBT individuals the language contained in the bill could offer a legal defense to private businesses and other institutions to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity. As of April 1, 2015 HB 1228 has been passed and many are not pleased. Organizations such as, The American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, and The National Center for Lesbian Rights joined together to ask that the current governor of Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson, not sign the bill. After much backlash Governor Asa Hutchinson has publicly announced that he would not sign the bill that has been passed by legislature as he states, “discrimination is not an Arkansas value”.  The Governor has since asked legislature to revise HB 1228 to more closely mirror a federal religious-freedom law that now does not apply to individual states.

America prides itself in being the land of the free, but are we really free if the state we live in is able to pass laws that discriminate against us?  What are your thoughts? Were you aware of this bill?

To read the news story that caught our attention visit: Gov. Hutchinson to sign revised religious freedom bill

Best wishes,

Vanessa Barrientos, Tianna Randle- Bean, and Dhalia Herrod 

**Disclaimer: This blog is for a class project and not an official blog**