The Texas Senate revived legislation known as the “Save Chick-fil-A” bill on Tuesday after it was killed in the House last week with a “procedural maneuver” by Dem. Representative, Julie Johnson. The bill states that “a governmental entity may not take any adverse action against any person based wholly or partly on a person’s belief or action in accordance with the person’s sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction, including beliefs or convictions regarding marriage.”
The name, Save Chick-fil-A, came as a result of the company being denied a vendor in the San Antonio airport because it previously donated money to faith-based organizations that opposed same-sex marriage. The city council’s decision to exclude Chick-fil-A generated a considerable amount of concern from faith-based groups. Those in support of the bill aim to protect religious liberties and the rights of individuals to earn a wage without the fear of religious persecution.
Senator Bryan Hughes introduced the bill to the committee on Monday afternoon after receiving authorization that allowed it to be heard without public notice. The proposed bill was quickly approved, making it eligible for a vote by the Senate. This didn’t come without backlash from the left who claim the proposal would “erode enforcement of municipal nondiscrimination ordinances that protect LGBT individuals from being fired from their jobs or evicted based on their sexual orientation.”. Ironically, these are the exact same things that are happening to religious groups on a regular basis.
LGBTQ advocates oppose the protection of religious freedom under the legislation claiming that it perpetuates anti-gay discrimination. The function of the proposed law does not target LGBTQ groups or embolden discriminatory action, but it reasonably aims to safeguard the ability of individuals to practice their deeply held, religious beliefs without government interference.
The Save Chick-fil-A bill could be voted on in the Senate as early as Wednesday and the values that once made this country great should succeed in doing so once again. Prohibiting businesses from opening up vendors because of their faith is not only prejudicial but it is despicable and it is an act that should have been condemned from the start regardless of party lines.
“This is about our freedom of religion, our freedom of worship…This is about our First Amendment rights secured by God and secured by the constitution.” Texas Rep. Jeff Leach
If you love Chick-Fil-A and are tired of Democrats trying to put them out of business, sign this petition!