• Home
  • News
    • Business
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
    • Legislature
    • Politics / Govt
  • Sports
    • The Bill Pollock Show
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support

Missourinet

Your source for Missouri News and Sports

You are here: Home / Legislature / In final three weeks of session, Missouri House committee considers LGBT bill

In final three weeks of session, Missouri House committee considers LGBT bill

April 20, 2017 By Alisa Nelson

Missouri does not have a law barring discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity for things like housing, access to public restrooms and in the workplace. A bill being considered by a House committee would expand Missouri’s Human Rights Act to make such acts illegal. Rep. Tom Hannegan (R-St. Charles) is co-sponsoring the measure.

Rep. Tom Hannegan (R-St. Charles)

“Discrimination is discrimination is discrimination,” says Hannegan. “I don’t believe in protected classes. I think everybody should have the same rights, the same freedoms, the same law of protection.”

During a hearing on the proposal, Brian Bunten with the Missouri Chamber of Commerce says it opposes adding another protected class to the law.

“If the bill offered to protect veterans, marital status, political affiliation, credit history, you name it, I’d be here offering the same exact testimony,” says Bunten.

Raymond McCarty with Associated Industries of Missouri and Rep. Gina Mitten (D-St. Louis) disagree about the issue.

“Establishing new protected classes for any group of people causes issues,” says McCarty.

“So when you say causes issues, is the only issue that you are referring the ability to sue employers,” asks Mitten.

“Yes,” replies McCarty.

“They do it the same way. It’s just different people,” says Mitten.

Retired Hannibal Presbyterian Church pastor Chuck Robb supports the measure.

“The issues of the pain and exclusion breaks my heart, not just as a human being but as a pastor,” says Robb.

The committee has not voted on the proposal. The 2017 Missouri legislative session ends May 12.

Similar legislation has been offered for several years. The furthest it has made it in the legislative process in recent history has been a public hearing.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Legislature, News

Subscribe to our daily newsletter


Tweets by Missourinet

Sports

Royals building a winner, Chiefs will look different in 2021 (PODCAST)

Thanks for … [Read More...]

Rookie scores in debut as Blues beat Ducks

Zach … [Read More...]

Chiefs GM hopeful Mahomes and his offensive tackles will be ready for training camp

Kansas … [Read More...]

Baseball during a pandemic Cardinals tie, Royals win after Rangers have to stop in the sixth. (PODCAST)

Thanks for … [Read More...]

Former two-star athlete at Mizzou now coach at CBC High School

Former … [Read More...]

More Sports

Tweets by missourisports

Archives

Opinion/Editorials

TwitterFacebook

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC