Oklahoma Representative Sally Kern, who on more than one occasion has compared gays to terrorists, has withdrawn her bill that would have allowed Oklahoma businesses to refuse service to any LGBT individual or organization, AKOR reports:
“After further consideration, I have decided to withdraw House Bill 1597, known as ‘The Business Protection Act.’ The bill as introduced did not accomplish my desired purpose. Across the country, business owners are being sued by individuals who are asking the owner to perform a service or provide a product that is contrary to their deeply held religious beliefs. When these business owners have refused because of conscience, they were then sued having to face legal battles that resulted in their losing their business and even facing jail. I wanted a tort bill that limited damages between the business owner and the customer ensuring that the business owner would not lose their livelihood.
“I will support the efforts of my colleagues who have introduced bills that do what I intended. I will work with the governor, the speaker of the House and Senate pro tempore to protect the business interests of our state so that all our citizens who take the risk of opening a business can prosper and thrive.”
Kern is continuing to sponsor the "Preservation and Sovereignty of Marriage Act" which would bar the use of taxpayer dollars or government salaries for "the licensing or support of same-sex marriage," as well as the “Freedom to Obtain Conversion Therapy Act” which gives parents the right to seek help to "cure" their gay kids.
