[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/oregon-group-pushing-for-religious-freedom-bill\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/oregon-group-pushing-for-religious-freedom-bill\/","headline":"Oregon Group Pushing for Religious Freedom Bill","name":"Oregon Group Pushing for Religious Freedom Bill","description":"Once again, we’re back at it with the so-called “religious freedom” bills.\u00a0This time, it’s Oregon. \u00a0 Once again, we’re back at it with the so-called...","datePublished":"2014-02-28","dateModified":"2021-06-25","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/emily\/#Person","name":"Emily Gable","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/emily\/","identifier":791,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3674a29bf0b56a07534081bfecaad3d7ff35804830785703c4ab693a5b2efd6d?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3674a29bf0b56a07534081bfecaad3d7ff35804830785703c4ab693a5b2efd6d?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/oregon-flag.png","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/oregon-flag.png","height":300,"width":500},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/oregon-group-pushing-for-religious-freedom-bill\/","about":["Marriage Equality News"],"wordCount":334,"keywords":[" marriage equality"," Oregon"," same-sex marriage","news","religious freedom"],"articleBody":" Once again, we’re back at it with the so-called “religious freedom” bills.\u00a0This time, it’s Oregon.\u00a0Once again, we’re back at it with the so-called “religious freedom” bills. An Oregon group called the Friends of Religious Freedom (affiliated with the Oregon Family Council) are working to get a petition signed that would allow business owners to refuse service to same-sex couples. We’ve recently seen very similar bills in Kansas, Tennessee and Arizona be seriously considered\u2014only to be vetoed or dropped because officials determined that the negative effects would be severe.The group is trying to get IP52 (the “Protect Religious Freedom Initiative”) on the ballot for November. A spokesperson for the group previously expressed concern about government hostility towards the freedom of religion. \u201cWe are deeply concerned that even Oregon elected officials are becoming hostile towards religious freedom,” the spokesperson said. Shawn Lindsay, a lawyer working with the group, issued a statement about the initiative.\u201cThe Protect Religious Freedom Initiative will protect Oregonians from government penalties or civil actions for choosing non-participation in same-sex ceremonies that violate their conscience or religious beliefs. This initiative is different from Arizona\u2019s legislation,” Lindsay stated. “Our initiative will protect an individual from being coerced to participate in a same-sex ceremony in violation of their conscience for fear of retribution; it does not seek an \u2018exemption\u2019 from providing service to individuals.\u201dHowever, other people don’t buy the rationale behind the initiative. Mike Marshall, campaign manager for Oregon United for Marriage, believes that the bill provides an easy way out to legalize discrimination. \u201cThat’s not what this law is,\u201d he stated. \u201cThis is about allowing corporations and businesses to discriminate against gay and lesbian couples on their wedding day.\u201dEarlier this year, it was determined that an Oregon bakery who refused service to a lesbian couple\u2014because of their religious beliefs\u2014had violated their civil rights. IP52, if added to the ballot and passed, would protect business owners like this.\u00a0Photo: Wikipedia"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Oregon Group Pushing for Religious Freedom Bill","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/oregon-group-pushing-for-religious-freedom-bill\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]