Missouri LGBT advocates are speaking out against a handful of bills in the state house and senate.
Promoting Equality for All Missourians, or PROMO, is urging Missourians to call their lawmakers and ask them to come out against the bills: HB104, SB311 and SB248, which it says are discriminatory.
The bills somewhat resemble so-called religious freedom laws passed in Indiana and Arkansas, which attracted national attention, in that they call for increased protection for religious student groups.
While the House bill prohibits institutions of higher learning from “substantially burdening” a student’s exercise of religion, the senate bills focus on ensuring equal benefits for religious student groups and preventing institutions from punishing students for adhering to their, “sincerely held religious beliefs.”
That language mirrors those aforementioned religious freedom laws, which critics allege allow businesses to discriminate against same-sex couples on the basis of religious beliefs.
The House Bill is set to be heard Tuesday.