Gay rights & religious freedom debate at State Capitol

Gay rights supporters are expected to rally in Denver on Monday, as two bills regarding religion and gay discrimination reach the State Capital.

The house will decide if business owners should be punished for refusing to serve gay people, because of their religious beliefs.

The growing conflict between religion and gay rights has reached the State Capital- and it’s sparking national conversation.

“Who can be against religious freedom? The cases that prompted this bill had to do with religious speech, not someone who wants to discriminate against a couple,” said Bruce Hausknecht with Focus on the Family.

The debate in the state house stems from a high-profile case, after a baker in a Denver suburb refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, because of his religious beliefs.

“It’s not that the baker is refusing based on their sexual orientation, he’s refusing in a message, a message that goes against his religious beliefs,” said Hausknecht.

The Colorado Civil Rights Commission said the baker violated a state law requiring that all customers are served, regardless of their sexual orientation.

But some argue that the ruling violates First Amendment rights.

“I am Christian, and with all due respect to Focus on the Family, God doesn’t issue a business license, the state does. It has strict requirements with everyone applying for that license,” gay rights activist, Jack Danielsen said.

Gay rights supporters say business owners are being given the ‘right to discriminate’.

“Absolutely that’s what it’s doing, and it’s a very well concealed discrimination under the face of religious freedom,” said Danielsen.

“That’s unfortunate to phrase it that way, because really the action this bill prevents is the government forcing someone to violate their religious conscience,” said Hausknecht.

The proposals are expected to fail in the Democrat-led committee.