Missouri legislation favors religious exemption

by Austin Stallings
The Gayly Intern

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - After a 39-hour filibuster by Missouri Democrats, Republicans turned to a sporadically-used procedural maneuver to cut off debate and force a vote on legislation granting greater protections in the state Constitution for some business owners and individuals opposed to gay marriage.

The proposed constitutional amendment received initial approval Wednesday after a forced vote and is up for a final Senate vote.

The Kansas City Star reports that Democrats opposed the measure so vociferously because it "renders some people subhuman, second class citizens," said Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, a University City Democrat.

According to a news release from PROMO, a Missouri LGBTQ advocacy group, over 200 Missouri businesses, faith leaders and organizations have expressed opposition to the amendment, which passed with a vote of 23–9.

Similar legislation has been passed in other states citing religious liberties as viable means for denying services to members of the LGBT community. More specifically, the bills in the past have been centered around providing services for same-sex weddings.

The legislation was introduced with 12 other bills in the House, several having to do with budget cuts. Also featured was a $70 million dollar boost to K-12 schools which still falls 440 million dollars short of what is needed to fully fund public schools.

But, the budget featured plans to block Medicaid patients from getting any health care services from Planned Parenthood, as well as a $7.6 million budget cut for the University of Missouri, and another $1 million in budget cuts to the Columbia campus.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Gayly - 3/10/2016 @ 4:41 p.m. CST