Religious freedom bill dies in Colorado House

A state House panel for a third straight year rejected a Republican-led effort to expand religious freedom protections in Colorado, derailing an emotional fight over whether people should be able to deny services to someone on the basis of religion.

Religious freedom laws have been on the books in the U.S. since 1993, but in the last few years have been defined by a single issue: whether Christians should be able to refuse to provide wedding-related services to same-sex couples.

Supporters say the bill is a needed layer of protection for people who believe that participating in a same-sex wedding — by say, baking a cake or photographing the service — would violate their religious beliefs.

“This is a good bill,” said co-sponsor Rep. Stephen Humphrey, R-Severance, noting that opponents’ fears haven’t come to fruition in other states that have such laws. “It’s not some Wild West of discrimination out there.”

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/2017/01/25/religious-freedom-bill-dies-colorado-house/