Gay lawmakers in Texas are jubilant after they defeated legislation that would have prevented government from punishing businesses because of the owner’s religious beliefs.
The so-called “Save Chick-fil-A” bill was introduced in response to the San Antonio City Council’s decision to ban the restaurant chain from opening a location in the city’s airport. City Council members had falsely accused the restaurant chain of being anti-gay.
State Rep. Matt Krause’s bill would have prohibited cities and government entities from taking “adverse actions” against businesses that publicly espouse religious convictions.
“I don’t care if you’re Chick-fil-A or Ben & Jerry’s,” Krause told the Dallas Morning News. “Anybody would want to make sure the government can’t take any adverse action for who you associate with.”
However, the Texas LGBTQ Caucus was able to defeat the bill without even firing a shot by using a parliamentary point of order.
“Hopefully this is the day discrimination against the LGBT community dies in Texas,” State Rep. Julie Johnson told USA Today.
The newspaper reported that Johnson could be seen pumping her fist in the air after the legislation failed. And someone sarcastically played “Taps.”
Texas Tribune reported that many LGBTQ advocates considered Krause’s bill to be the most serious threat to gay rights this session.
“The LGBTQ Caucus is in the House. We’re getting things done and we’re here to stay,” Johnson said in remarks reported by the Tribune.
The Texas LGBTQ Caucus has guaranteed that Christian business owners can be targeted for discrimination in the Lone Star State.
Vice President Mike Pence warned people of faith that such a time was coming during his commencement address over the weekend at Liberty University.
“We live in a time when it’s become acceptable and even fashionable to ridicule and even discriminate against people of faith,” Pence said. “The truth is, we live in a time when the freedom of religion is under assault.”
It’s important for you to understand why the Texas LGBTQ Caucus did not want to “Save Chick-fil-A.”
They vehemently objected to the family-owned company donating to worthy causes like the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Salvation Army.
Both Christian organizations require leaders and members to follow the Bible’s teachings about marriage and sexuality. Because of that, they’ve been labeled anti-gay.
In other words, any Christian or Christian business in the state of Texas that follows the teachings of the Bible could one day be targeted by Rep. Johnson and her posse of anti-Christian bigots.