Denver, CO—Last week, American Atheists, representing over 1,000 constituents in Colorado, wrote in opposition to HB 1140. This controversial bill would, under the pretext of religious freedom, exempt individuals and organizations from Colorado’s nondiscrimination legislation.
People and groups could then legally discriminate against atheists, LGBTQ people, and religious minorities—in some cases with the use of taxpayer funds.
Here are all the ways HB 1140 would create a license-to-discriminate:
- State-funded foster care and adopting agencies could discriminate against would-be parents and foster youth on the basis of their religion.
- Religious organizations, including hospitals, schools, nonprofits, and businesses, could discriminate against or discipline employees based on their religious beliefs.
- Foster parents could subject foster children to religious indoctrination and abusive practices like conversion therapy without repercussion.
- People and businesses could deny LGBTQ people a sweeping array of services and products that might conceivably be used for same-sex marriages or gender transition.
- People and businesses could discriminate against trans people in employment, dress, public accommodations, and sex-segregated facilities.
- Workplace harassment against LGBTQ people on the basis of religion would be allowed.
- Government officials could refuse to provide marriage licenses to LGBTQ people based on their religious beliefs.
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