by Wyatt Ronan •
RFRA bill similar to controversial Indiana law signed by then Gov. Mike Pence
MONTANA — Today, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people responds to Governor Greg Gianforte’s signing of the anti-LGBTQ Senate Bill 215 — an expansive religious refusal bill that could grant a license to discriminate against Montanans and visitors, including LGBTQ people, people of faith, and women, across a wide range of goods and services in the state — into law. This represents the fourth anti-LGBTQ and second RFRA bill sent to a governor’s desk this session.
The slate of anti-LGBTQ bills that are rippling through the Montana state legislature will generate serious consequences for all Montanans. SB 215 will have a significant impact on vulnerable communities in Montana — including people of faith, women, and LGBTQ people. It will also jeopardize Montana businesses that voted for Governor Gianforte with the hopes of getting the state’s economy back on track. Let me be clear: religious liberty and equality are not mutually exclusive, and Montanas will not stand by as Governor Gianforte and fearful legislators seek to actively discriminate against the LGBTQ population.
Indiana passed a similar bill which cost them $60m in lost revenue
Voters strongly disapproved of Indiana’s religious refusal law and punished Pence for signing it
To make a general inquiry, please visit our contact page. Members of the media can reach our press office at: (202) 572-8968 or email press@hrc.org.
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