elected lawmakers," said Mar-
Kentglfgy :3 279 tin Cothran, spokesman for the
WI e aw Family Foundation.
(reprinted from Louisville Chris Hartman, director of the
Courier Journal) Fairness Campaign, noted that
the bill passed as the U.S. Su-
FRANKFORT, Ky. — The Ken- preme Court hears arguments
tucky House and Senate voted on same-sex marriage.
by ovenNhelming margins to
override Gov. Steve Beshear’s “Today the commonwealth took
veto of the controversial “reli— a step backwards in protecting
gious freedom” bill. its residents at the same time
the United States Supreme
The House’s 79-15 vote sent Court was hearing arguments
House Bill 279 to the Senate, that will advance the rights of
which voted 32—6 to override Americans. It’s sad and it’s dis-
the measure. heartening,” he said.
The one-paragraph bill that HB 279 says that government
stirred strong emotions now shall not infringe on any per—
Wiii become law in 90 days. son’s sincerely held religious
beliefs unless it can show with
Beshear released a statement “clear and convincing evidence”
saying he was disappointed some compelling governmental
with the override of the only interest for doing so.
bill he vetoed in the 2013 legis-
lative session. Gay—rights and human-rights
groups led the opposition to
“AsIexplained in my veto mes- the bill, warning that it could
sage, I have significant con- be used to challenge local laws
cerns that this bill will cause in Louisville, Lexington, Cov—
serious unintentional conse- ington and Vicco designed to
quences that could threaten protect gays and lesbians from
public safety, health care, and discrimination.
individuals’ civil rights.”
Beshear added additional
But the Family Foundation concerns in his veto message
claimed the wide vote mar— saying the bill could could be
gins proved that the concerns costly to local governments,
of Beshear, the American Civil impede the state’s economic
Liberties Union of Kentucky development efforts, and pos-
and gay—rights and human- sibly result in the withholding
rights groups were unfounded. of needed medical care or the
use of religious beliefs as a jus-
“The magnitude of this vote tification for abuse.
should send a message to
these groups that this kind of House Bill 279 will become
deception is not appreciated a Kentucky State Law in the
by the majority of the state’s month of June.
—