Arkansas Bill Seeks to Protect Religious Business Owners

An Arkansas house panel is proposing a bill that would protect a business owner's decision to refuse service to a gay person if that conflicts with their religious beliefs.

Representatives from statewide municipal, county, and school board organizations worry the measure will encourage frivolous lawsuits against local governments.

Supporters say the bill will protect religious owners from being forced to act against their beliefs, but question the process of determing the validity of a sincere religious belief.

"This protects any sincere religious belief whether it's in the New Testament, the Old Testament, the Qu'ran or the church of Steve," Michael A. Mosley, with the Arkansas Municipal League, said.

"How does the court determine what a sincerely held religious belief is?" He added.

Two Presbyterian preachers argued that the religious conscience bill could encourage discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

"Discrimination is not holy and I encourage you to not take us back to times before 1964 or empower prejudice in the name of religion," said Frank LeBlanc, pastor of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church in Little Rock.

The bill is headed to the full House for a vote.