This has gone largely under the radar, even the Rachel Maddow show from the a couple days ago missed this, but add California to the list of states where a religious freedom hate bill has popped up.
Asm. Shannon Grove, a republican from Bakersfield Ca, introduced just last week AB 2237 which provides an "exception" to the Unruh Civil Rights Act "to protect the free exercise of religion"
The Unruh Civil Rights Act provides that all persons within the state are free and equal, regardless of their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, or sexual orientation, and are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would provide an exception to the Unruh Civil Rights Act to protect the free exercise of religion.
So this "exception" to the Unruh Act under AB 2237 essentially allows any business to refuse service to ANYONE of any race, any gender, any person with any disability, any sexual orientation. All protected classes in California would be subject to discrimination if it was done so in the name of religion.
Hi-freakin-larious! So its not just an anti-gay bill, its a total discrimination bill, allowing discrimination for any religious purpose.
Religion under the law is still a very vague term. All you need is a "sincere and meaningful belief" in a religion (and it does not have to do with god) for courts to honor that religion.
California of all places. Geez.