Republicans in both chambers of the Oklahoma legislature passed on Thursday an anti-gay bill that will allow taxpayer funded adoption agencies to ban gay parents on religious grounds. The bill, described as “state-sponsored discrimination,” now heads to Republican Governor Mary Fallin’s desk.
SB 1140 might be unconstitutional, but Republican lawmakers were determined to pass it before the session ended Thursday evening. The Senate passed the bill by a 33-7 vote, and the House by a 56-21 vote.
“Republicans backing the bill say it protects religious freedom and will lead more private agencies to partner with the state on foster and adoption placements. They said same-sex couples would not be the only ones failing some agencies’ ‘religious test,'” according to Tulsa World.
In the House, “enraged Democrats tried to tie the bill up on procedural moves that were mostly ruled out of order. Shouting and general chaos on an order not seen for years ensued.”
Members of both parties hurled insults at each other during an informal but colorful debate about which side were the biggest bigots.
“If this bill becomes law it will cost Oklahomans millions of dollars in litigation fees, in a time when Oklahoma can not properly fund education and other core services,” Freedom Oklahoma executive director Troy Stevenson has warned.
“What happened on the floor of the Oklahoma House and Senate today was a disgrace,” Stevenson said Thursday night. “Leadership of both houses forced an unneeded, unwanted, and un-American bill onto the Governor’s desk. This measure does nothing but keep Oklahoma’s most vulnerable youth out of loving and committed homes. It is our greatest hope that Governor Fallin will show the world that the Oklahoma Standard still exists and that we do not put political posture over the health and safety of Oklahoma’s children. Governor Fallin, please veto this hateful bill.”
The governor has 15 days to sign the bill, veto it, or ignore it. If she does noting it becomes a “pocket veto,” and does not become law.
You can urge Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin to veto the bill by calling 405-521-2342 during business hours, or 405-522-8857, option 6, to leave a message.