Pro-Christofascist "Religious Freedom" Bills Die in South Dakota and West Virginia

The hate merchants who disingenuously claim that Christians are being persecuted by being subjected to non-discrimination laws and barred from mistreating LGBT individuals suffered two defeats - one in South Dakota where  Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard vetoed a bill that would have restricted transgender students’ use of restrooms, locker rooms, and other gender-specific facilities in public schools.  The other defeat was in West Virginia where the state Senate overwhelmingly voted down a toxic license to discriminate bill.  The New Civil Rights Movement has details on this positive development.  Here are excerpts:

The West Virginia Senate has just killed an anti-gay "religious freedom" bill that, like many RFRAs across the nation's legislatures, would have made discriminating against LGBT people – especially same-sex couples – legal, by letting anyone or any company, corporation, or organization claim to have a "sincerely held religious or moral belief" against same-sex marriage or even LGBT people in general.

Senators defeated HB 4012, the newly-renamed “Religious Freedom Protection Act,” by a vote of 27-7.

HB 4012 had been amended from the House version to add some protections for LGBT people, but even then, at that point, it had become toxic.

“The WV Senate’s rejection of House Bill 4012 is a resounding victory for Fairness West Virginia, our allies, our supporters, and Mountaineers everywhere,” Andrew Schneider, Executive Director of the Fairness West Virginia, said in a statement.

“With similar discriminatory legislation being considered in states across the nation, West Virginia sent a clear message to the world that Mountaineers do not tolerate discrimination. This action proves once again that bipartisan support for nondiscrimination principles is a guiding force in our state.”

The bill had passed the House in a 72-26 vote. 

During debate, Democratic Delegate Mike Pushkin delivered a memorable and impactful speech, reminding his fellow delegates that "baking a cake is not persecution."

These Christofascists are truly foul, bigoted people.  They are selfish hypocrites who are a threat to religious freedom for all Americans.  They are a clear and present danger to the U.S. Constitution and the rights of all Americans. They need to become social and political outcasts.