![\"Virginia](\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Virginia_capitol_seal.jpg?resize=600%2C325\")
<\/p>\nVirginia House Passes Anti-LGBTQ \u2018Religious Freedom\u2019 Bill<\/b><\/p>\n
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It\u2019s fitting that the Virginia House of Delegates\u00a0chose Groundhog Day to pass a so-called religious freedom bill,\u00a0entitled \u201cSolemnization of Marriage,\u201d<\/a>\u00a0given that similar legislation just last year met with\u00a0Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe\u2019s veto<\/a>.<\/p>\n HB2025 was approved 57 to 37 by the GOP-controlled chamber on a mostly party-line vote. (Four Republicans, Delegates Davis, Stolle, Villanueva and Yost voted nay.) It purportedly came in response to McAuliffe\u2019s executive order that excludes government contractors who are found to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals and states that organizations that do not accept same-sex<\/a> marriage should not be \u201cpunished\u201d by the government.<\/p>\n Delegate Nicolas Freitas sponsored the bill. \u201cThis governor crossed a line and we have to defend those religious organizations,\u201d he claimed, referring to sexual identity as \u201cvenereal passions.\u201d<\/p>\n Democratic lawmakers voiced their concerns against the bill\u2019s passage<\/a>\u00a0as well as warned of the HB2 precedent in neighboring North Carolina<\/a>:<\/p>\n Del. Marcus Simon claimed that there are already statutes in place that protect religious organizations from violating their faith . . .\u00a0\u201cI think it\u2019s going to send the wrong message to the rest of the United States,\u201d Simon said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to say that we are on the same side as North Carolina. That we are on the wrong side of this argument. That we are not welcoming to all kinds of people, regardless of who they love.\u00a0It\u2019s not the message we want to send if we want to have a 21st Century Virginia economy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n LGBTQ advocacy groups Human Rights Campaign and Equality Virginia also spoke out<\/a>:<\/p>\n \u201cThe Virginia House of Delegates\u2019 decision to pass this legislation puts the state\u2019s people, reputation, and economy at risk,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>said HRC Legal Director Sarah Warbelow.\u00a0\u201cThis reckless bill in truth has nothing to do with the right to practice one\u2019s religion, which is already firmly protected by the First Amendment. Rather, it is a thinly veiled attempt to provide a special license to discriminate with taxpayer funds.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe recognize that religion is a vital part of many Virginians\u2019 daily lives, but HB 2025 does not protect religious liberty. Instead, it provides a license to discriminate against loving LGBTQ families,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>said Equality Virginia Executive Director James Parrish. \u00a0\u201cFurthermore, its broad and vague definition of \u2018person\u2019 would set a dangerous precedent for discriminatory individuals and groups to be protected by our religious freedom laws.\u201d<\/p>\n Gov. McAuliffe has already signaled his intention to veto HB2025.<\/p>\n The post Virginia House Passes Anti-LGBTQ \u2018Religious Freedom\u2019 Bill<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n