Opponents rally over Missouri religious-objections measure

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Opponents rallied Thursday at Missouri's Capitol against a measure to grant protections to some businesses that cite religious objections when denying goods or services for same-sex weddings.

Nearly 100 members of the Missouri LGBT advocacy group PROMO and others delivered petitions against the legislation to leaders in the GOP-controlled House, where the proposed constitutional amendment awaits a committee hearing.

The proposed ballot measure would amend the Missouri Constitution to prohibit government penalties for photographers, florists and other professionals who cite religious beliefs while declining to provide wedding-related services of "expressional or artistic creation" to same-sex couples. It also would apply to clergy and religious institutions.

The measure passed the Senate on March 10 after a failed 37-hour filibuster by Democrats, who argued it will permit discrimination against LGBT people.

Some of those rallying carried signs that read "Bake my cake" in rainbow writing and "Free Missouri from discrimination."

"Don't let people tell you this is a narrowly tailored bill and it's not that big of a deal," Sarah Rossi, a lobbyist for the Missouri chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, told a crowd in front of the Capitol. "It is a huge deal. It enshrines discrimination into our Constitution."

Republican supporters dispute that. House handler Republican Rep. Paul Curtman said Thursday it does nothing to infringe on same-sex couples' ability to wed.

"It's a good balance," Curtman said. "This bill is literally the very least that we can do to make sure that there's protections for people that still feel very strongly on both sides of the issue."

A House hearing for the measure has not yet been scheduled.

If passed by the GOP-led Legislature, the proposal would bypass Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon and head to voters for a decision.