Anti-gay bill passes Senate; Democratic Party objects

[n2doc]

Leadership of the Arkansas Democratic Party today announced its opposition to Sen. Bart Hester's bill to preserve legal discrimination against gay people. It was passed shortly after by the Senate, with three Democrats in support.

Hester's bill would prohibit local governments from extending civil rights protection to any class not covered in state law. It is a response to the Fayetteville civil rights ordinance extending protection in employment, housing and public accommodations to LGBT people.

Said the Party:

Today, officers of the Democratic Party of Arkansas, including Chair Vincent Insalaco, 1st Vice Chair Joyce Elliott, 2nd Vice Chair Janet Johnson-Henderson, and Treasurer Tyler B. Clark released the following joint statement in opposition to Senate Bill 202 in the Arkansas State Legislature:

“This bill strips local control from our communities. Arkansas is home to some of the world’s most notable Fortune 500 companies, like Wal-Mart, who have adopted good business policies that prohibit discrimination in the workplace, and yet, some Republican legislators would prefer to move our state backwards with this overreaching bill.”

A vote is expected this afternoon.

UPDATE: The bill passed 24-8. Three Democrats voted for it — Bruce Maloch, Bobby Pierce and Larry Teague. Two Republicans, Alan Clark and Jake Files, didn't vote.

more
http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2015/02/09/arkansas-democratic-party-opposes-anti-gay-bill

[blkmusclmachine]

1. Arkansas is the state that flirted with a Death Penalty for minor children a couple years ago.

http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2012/10/08/republican-candidate-fuqua-endorses-death-penalty-for-rebellious-children

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Due to the recent change in Arkansas, I'm about to pack up and leave. This bill

is a direct reaction by the GOP-thugs to the ordinances passed by Eureka Springs and Fayetteville. I've had it. I will post my property off-limits to SBC members.