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McAuliffe vetoes ‘religious freedom’ bill to chagrin of conservatives McAuliffe vetoes ‘religious freedom’ bill to chagrin of conservatives
(35 minutes later)
RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Wednesday vetoed a Republican-backed bill that would have prohibited state agencies from punishing religious organizations that discriminate against same-sex couples.RICHMOND — Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Wednesday vetoed a Republican-backed bill that would have prohibited state agencies from punishing religious organizations that discriminate against same-sex couples.
The veto comes in the same week that similar legislation is drawing attention to Georgia, where Gov. Nathan Deal (R) rejected a “religious freedom” bill and North Carolina, where Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed a bill that blocks municipalities from expanding laws to protect lesbian, gay and transgender people. The veto comes in the same week that similar legislation is drawing attention to Georgia, where Gov. Nathan Deal (R) rejected a “religious freedom” bill, and North Carolina, where Gov. Pat McCrory (R) signed a bill that blocks municipalities from expanding laws to protect lesbian, gay and transgender people.
McAuliffe vetoed the Virginia bill during a radio appearance.McAuliffe vetoed the Virginia bill during a radio appearance.
“It’s unconstitutional, it is discriminatory,” he said on WTOP. “It demonizes folks. It brings fear and persecution. We can’t tolerate that.”“It’s unconstitutional, it is discriminatory,” he said on WTOP. “It demonizes folks. It brings fear and persecution. We can’t tolerate that.”
In North Carolina businesses are pushing back against the law, and McAuliffe said the Virginia bill would have hurt his efforts to grow the economy.In North Carolina businesses are pushing back against the law, and McAuliffe said the Virginia bill would have hurt his efforts to grow the economy.
“We need Virginia to be open and welcoming to everyone,” he said.“We need Virginia to be open and welcoming to everyone,” he said.
Republicans say the bills are necessary to protect religious freedom in the face of increasing cultural acceptance of the LGBT community, while Democrats say they give people a license to discriminate and undermine the constitution. Republicans say the bills are necessary to protect religious freedom in the face of increasing cultural acceptance of the LGBT community, while Democrats say they give people a license to discriminate and undermine the Constitution.
[Stands on social issues tear at the two main conservative bases][Stands on social issues tear at the two main conservative bases]
The battle played out this year in Virginia, as it has around the country, in the recent legislative session.The battle played out this year in Virginia, as it has around the country, in the recent legislative session.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Charles “Bill” Carrico (R-Grayson), said he considers the measure a proactive attempt to protect clergy and religiously affiliated schools that have been persecuted by the media, protesters and government intervention into what he called traditional marriage.The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Charles “Bill” Carrico (R-Grayson), said he considers the measure a proactive attempt to protect clergy and religiously affiliated schools that have been persecuted by the media, protesters and government intervention into what he called traditional marriage.
“It’s just a matter of time, I feel, before someone tries to sue the church,” he said in a phone interview. “I think you see a trend around the country right now to promote homosexual beliefs, and I think you see that trend happening on a wide-scale basis.”“It’s just a matter of time, I feel, before someone tries to sue the church,” he said in a phone interview. “I think you see a trend around the country right now to promote homosexual beliefs, and I think you see that trend happening on a wide-scale basis.”
The veto, which was expected, sparked widespread praise from gay rights groups and Democrats.The veto, which was expected, sparked widespread praise from gay rights groups and Democrats.
James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia, said legislative support for this bill and similar measures means more must be done to protect gay rights.James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia, said legislative support for this bill and similar measures means more must be done to protect gay rights.
“The majority of Virginians believe in fairness and equality, and it is discouraging to see so many of our legislators unwilling to stand with them for what is right by passing discriminatory legislation,” he said in a statement.“The majority of Virginians believe in fairness and equality, and it is discouraging to see so many of our legislators unwilling to stand with them for what is right by passing discriminatory legislation,” he said in a statement.
But Victoria Cobb, president of The Family Foundation of Virginia, said the bill would have protected dissent against the Supreme Court’s decision last summer that affirmed same-sex couples’ right to marry in all 50 states. But Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia, said the bill would have protected dissent against the Supreme Court’s decision last summer that affirmed same-sex couples’ right to marry in all 50 states.
“It is unfortunate that Governor McAuliffe is so willing to discriminate against people of faith who simply disagree with the secular left’s sexual dogma,” she said in a statement.“It is unfortunate that Governor McAuliffe is so willing to discriminate against people of faith who simply disagree with the secular left’s sexual dogma,” she said in a statement.
The bill does not have the votes needed for an override of McAuliffe’s veto. It passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly, 59 to 38, in the House and 21 to 19 in the Senate. The bill does not have the votes needed for an override of McAuliffe’s veto. It passed the Republican-controlled General Assembly 59 to 38 in the House and 21 to 19 in the Senate.
Before a House vote on a similar bill sponsored by Del. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah), Del. Mark D. Sickles (D-Fairfax), who is gay, gave an emotional floor speech urging his colleagues to consider the sweep of history before casting a vote that could haunt them for the rest of their lives.Before a House vote on a similar bill sponsored by Del. C. Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah), Del. Mark D. Sickles (D-Fairfax), who is gay, gave an emotional floor speech urging his colleagues to consider the sweep of history before casting a vote that could haunt them for the rest of their lives.
It passed anyway, but some young Republican lawmakers broke with their party to vote ‘no,’ reflecting the generational divide on gay rights within the GOP nationally. It passed anyway, but some young Republican lawmakers broke with their party to vote “no,” reflecting the generational divide on gay rights within the GOP nationally.
That bill protected discrimination against not just gay married couples, but also transgender people and anyone straight or gay who has sex outside marriage. That bill protected discrimination against not just gay married couples but also transgender people and anyone straight or gay who has sex outside marriage.