• News
    • Local
    • San Francisco
    • State
    • National
    • International
  • Perspectives
    • Opinions
    • Columns
    • Sports
  • Features
    • HIV & AIDS
    • Health
    • Seniors
    • Spirituality
    • Transgender / Transsexual
    • Real Estate
    • Everybody’s Business
    • Travel
    • Fitness
  • Arts & Entertainment
    • Theatre
    • Music
    • Books
    • Television
    • Film
  • Newspaper
    • Contact
    • Advertising Info
We The People
Voice of the LGBTQIA+ Community in the North Bay
  • News
    • Local
    • San Francisco
    • State
    • National
    • International
  • Perspectives
    • Opinions
    • Columns
    • Sports
  • Features
    • HIV & AIDS
    • Health
    • Seniors
    • Spirituality
    • Transgender / Transsexual
    • Real Estate
    • Everybody’s Business
    • Travel
    • Fitness
  • Arts & Entertainment
    • Theatre
    • Music
    • Books
    • Television
    • Film

National/ News/ Top Stories

59 Anti-LGBT Bills Are Active Nationwide

Gary Carnivele January 16, 2016

According to the legislation tracker Protect Thy Neighbor, there are presently 59 anti-LGBT bills active nationwide in state legislatures. The site is tracking this post-Obergefell avalanche in multiple categories including same-sex marriage, adoption, healthcare, public accommodations, and religious liberty. Hit the link, check out your home state, and bookmark the site, which is a project of Americans United For Separation of Church and State.

Protect Thy Neighbor is monitoring and fighting bills across the country that would allow individuals, businesses, and government employees to harm others in the name of religion. The most common bills would allow discrimination against LGBT Americans and deny access to reproductive healthcare, but these bills have other negative and far reaching consequences as well.  You can learn more about the most recent 2016 bills that have been introduced in your state below. This Bill tracker is updated on Tuesdays and Fridays


RELIGIOUS FREEDOM RESTORATION ACTS

These bills would create or expand a state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act. RFRAs authorize religious exemptions to each and every state law on the books. If any state law or policy is deemed to place a “substantial burden” on the religious beliefs of a person (and often even a for-profit corporation), the state must show that it has a “compelling interest” and that the law is “narrowly tailored” to fulfilling that interest. Although RFRAs were originally intended to protect genuine religious freedom, many states are now adopting RFRAs in order to override nondiscrimination laws and deny women reproductive healthcare. For more on RFRA, including talking points on why states shouldn’t adopt Indiana-like RFRAs -or- replicate the federal RFRA, please check out our RFRA page.

Florida–HB 401

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on October 30, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

Read why government officials should not allow officials to refuse to issue marriage licenses.

Read why you should oppose bills that give child placement agencies a license to discriminate.

 

Georgia–HB 29

Bill status: Introduced (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Georgia–SB 129

Bill status: Passed Senate (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Read why states shouldn’t just adopt the federal RFRA.

 

Georgia–HB 218

Bill status: Introduced (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Hawaii–HB 1160

Bill status: Introduced (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Indiana–SB 66

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on January 5, 2016

Read the text of the bill.

Kentucky–HB 14

Bill status: Prefiled

Read the text of the bill.

 

Kentucky–HB 17

Bill status: Prefiled

Read the text of this bill.

Read why the government should not allow officials to refuse to issue marriage licenses.

 

Kentucky–HB 28

Bill status: Prefiled

Read the text of the bill.

 

Kentucky–HB 31

Bill status: Prefiled

Read the text of the bill.

 

Michigan–SB 4

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on January 20, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

New Mexico–HB 55

Bill status: Prefiled

Read the text of the bill.

Read why you should oppose Indiana-style RFRA bills.

 

North Carolina–SB 550/HB 348

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on March 30, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Oklahoma–SB 898

Bill status: Prefiled

Read the text of the bill.

Oklahoma–HB 1371

Bill status: Passed House Committee on February 25, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Oklahoma–SB 440

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on February 3, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

 

Oklahoma–SB 723

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on February 3, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

↑ BACK TO TOP ↑

MARRIAGE

These bills would allow or even require government employees, for-profit business, or government contractors and grantees to discriminate against same-sex couples who are married or seeking to marry. Find out more about this issue on our marriage page.

Government-Employee: These bills would allow government employees and officials to withhold marriage licenses, refuse to solemnize weddings, or otherwise block recognition of some or all marriages. Check out our talking points here.

Florida–HB 401

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on October 30, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

Read why government officials should not allow officials to refuse to issue marriage licenses.

Read why you should oppose bills that give child placement agencies a license to discriminate.

 

Kentucky–HB 14

Bill status: Prefiled

Read the text of the bill.

 

Kentucky–HB 17

Bill status: Prefiled

Read the text of this bill.

Read why the government should not allow officials to refuse to issue marriage licenses.

 

Kentucky–HB 28

Bill status: Prefiled

Read the text of the bill.

 

Kentucky–HB 31

Bill status: Prefiled

Read the text of the bill.

 

Oklahoma—SB 478

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on February 2, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

South Carolina–SB 116

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on January 13, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

 

South Carolina—HB 3150

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on January 13, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

Virginia—SB 40

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on December 15, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

Minnesota–SF 2158

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on May 8, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

 

First Amendment Defense Acts: Also known as FADAs, these are copies of a federal bill that would allow private businesses, federal contractors and grantees, and even government employees to discriminate against same-sex couples, unmarried couples, people who have remarried, single mothers, those who have had sex outside of marriage, and others. Check out our FADA talking points here.

 

Illinois–SB 2164

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on July 28, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

 

Oklahoma–SB 440

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on February 3, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

 

Wedding-Services: These bills would allow private businesses and individuals to refuse to provide wedding services or products to same-sex couples or other couples.

Ohio–HB 296

Bill status: Referred to 2nd House Committee on September 16, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

South Carolina—HB 3150

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on January 13, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

Minnesota–SF 2158

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on May 8, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

 

Penalties for Recognizing Marriage: These bills would require firing of or pay cuts for government officials and employees who follow the Constitution and recognize the marriages of same-sex couples.

Oklahoma–HB 1599

Bill status: Voted out of House Committee on February 18, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

 

Oklahoma—SB 805

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on February 4, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

South Carolina–HB 3022

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on January 13, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

 

Pastor Protection Acts: We are monitoring these bills, which would prohibit the state from requiring clergy and religious institutions to perform marriages for same-sex or other couples if such marriages conflict with their religious beliefs. See more about clergy and marriage equality here.

Florida–HB 43

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on October 7, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

Florida–SB 110

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on August 21, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

Maryland–HB 16

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on December 16, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

Michigan–HB 4855

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on September 9, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

 

Michigan–HB 4858

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on September 9, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

 

Missouri—HB 2040

Bill status: Introduced

Read the text of the bill.

New Jersey–A 4733

Bill status: Referred to Assembly Committee on November 16, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

Ohio–HB 286

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on September 16, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

South Carolina–HB 4446

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on December 3, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

South Carolina–HB 4508

Bill status: Referred to House Committee December 3, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

Virginia—SB 41

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on December 15, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

Nullification of Marriage-Equality: These bills would defy the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Constitution by declaring that the state will recognize only marriages between one man and one woman.

South Carolina–HB 4513

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on December 3, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

Tennessee–HB 566/SB 397

Bill status: HB 566 referred to House Subcommittee on March 31, 2015 (carryover)/SB 397 referred to Senate Subcommittee on April 1, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

Changing The State’s Role In Marriage: These bills would eliminate or reduce the state’s role in licensing or solemnizing marriages.

Michigan–HB 4732

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on June 17, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Oklahoma–HB 1125

Bill status: Passed House; Referred to Senate Committee on March 18, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill. 

 

↑ BACK TO TOP ↑

Adoption

These bills that would allow government-funded agencies to deprive children of safe, loving, and happy families in order to facilitate religion-based discrimination against families with LGBT or single parents. Check out our talking points here.

Florida–HB 401

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on October 30, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

Read why government officials should not allow officials to refuse to issue marriage licenses.

Read why you should oppose bills that give child placement agencies a license to discriminate.

 

↑ BACK TO TOP ↑

Healthcare

These bills would allow individuals or businesses to withhold healthcare and health insurance from certain patients (most often LGBT and women patients) or for certain services and products (most often related to reproductive health). Find out more about this issue on our healthcare page.

Florida–HB 401

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on October 30, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

Read why government officials should not allow officials to refuse to issue marriage licenses.

Read why you should oppose bills that give child placement agencies a license to discriminate.

 

Michigan–HB 4309

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on March 10, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Michigan–HB 4309

Bill status: Referred to House Committee on March 10, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Pennsylvania–SB 292

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on January 20, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Tennessee–HB 566/SB 397

Bill status: HB 566 referred to House Subcommittee on March 31, 2015 (carryover)/SB 397 referred to Senate Subcommittee on April 1, 2015

Read the text of the bill.

 

↑ BACK TO TOP ↑

Student GROUPS

These bills would bar colleges and universities from enforcing nondiscrimination policies that apply to student religious clubs. Find out more about this issue on our student groups page.

California –AB 1212

Bill status: In Assembly Committee on April 21, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Kansas–SB 175

Bill status: Passed Senate; Referred to House Committee on April 2, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

South Carolina–SB 210

Bill status: Referred to Senate Committee on April 1, 2015 (carryover)

Read the text of the bill.

Related Posts

National /

Smithsonian National Museum of African Art abruptly postpones LGBTQ+ exhibit

News /

Opening May 15 at the GLBT Historical Society Museum, Éamon McGivern’s A/History presents new paintings by San Francisco-based artist Éamon McGivern

Top Stories /

President’s 2026 budget proposal could have harsh effects on LGBTQ+ people

‹ Gay Travel Guide to Greece › HRC Members and Supporters Prepare to Volunteer on MLK Day of Service

Back to Top

  • News
  • Perspectives
  • Features
  • Arts & Entertainment
  • Newspaper
© We The People 2025
Powered by WordPress • Themify WordPress Themes