Another intense week with bills that target LGBTs

South Dakota continues to earn the attention of the nation, with all eyes on Gov. Daugaard to veto a "genital check bill," HB 1008, that would segregate transgender students and raises a host of privacy concerns.  A national petition continues to grow, with already over 80,000 signatures delivered to the Governor when he met with transgender constituents yesterday afternoon. The bill reached the Governor's desk Tuesday, and he now has until March 1st to either sign or veto the bill, or it will automatically go into effect. 

In Georgia, last Friday the Senate passed a "state-sanctioned discrimination" bill, HB 757, that opens the door wide to discrimination in the name of religion against not only LGBT Georgians, but also others including single or unmarried parents and people of different religions.  

In neighboring West Virginia, a RFRA, HB 4012, is being shopped through Senate Committee after passing through the House of Delegates late last week.

A broad bill in Mississippi that would allow officials to turn same-sex couples away, and permit widespread discrimination against LGBT people, HB 1523, passed in the House; a bill in Oklahoma that would allow adoption agencies to turn away loving parents just because they may be in same-sex relationships, unmarried, or of a different religion, HB 2428, passed one House committee, and in Tennessee, a bill that would allow counselors to refuse to treat patients in the name of religion, SB 1556, passed in the Senate.

Last, but not least, in Kentucky, SB5, a bill that removes clerks names from marriage licenses, but also creates two different marriage licenses for gay and straight couples passes in the Senate. Even Kim Davis agrees with the ACLU on this one: one form for all loving couples seeking to marry (more information here: facebook.com/KentuckyGovernmentRetirees/posts/1028120140593562). 

"The pattern is crystal clear – these bills are all aimed at chipping away at the rights of LGBT people under the false guises of freedom and safety," said Eunice Rho, ACLU Advocacy and Policy Counsel. "Moreover, these bills often harm others beyond the LGBT community, including children. What's unsafe and unfree is denying our fellow friends and neighbors the same rights as everyone else. We will continue to fight until all those who oppose equality for all Americans are defeated."

Here is the ACLU bill-tracking page with the latest information.

The Gayly- 2/24/2016 @ 12:52 PM CST