On February 18, the Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill that will possibly lead to anti-gay segregation in the state, if signed into law. Reportedly written out of fear that Kansas could soon face a pro-gay marriage ruling, as the one witnessed in Oklahoma, the bill is likely to be passed by the Republican-controlled Senate and be signed into law by the state’s governor. If signed, the bill may mark Kansas as the first state in the United States to legalize segregation between gay and straight people in almost every arena of life.

According to the proposed bill, any individual, group or private business can refuse to serve gay couples if “it would be contrary to their sincerely held religious beliefs.” If the direct interpretation of the law does not sound bad enough, one must note that the law also permits government employees to refuse services to gays in the name of “religious liberty.” What is worse is that those who advocate this law suggest such discrimination will be applying to gay couples only, but there is no clear mention in the text of the bill that says gay individuals will be secure from it.

According to a catchall clause, businesses and bureaucrats can discriminate against gay people as long as the discrimination is somehow “related to, or related to the celebration of, any marriage, domestic partnership, civil union or similar arrangement.” This statement serves as a subtle loophole and is vulnerable to exploitation by those willing to discriminate.

Speaking in favour of the bill, Republican Charles Macheer said, “Discrimination is horrible. It’s hurtful. It has no place in civilized society and that’s precisely why we’re moving this bill.” Of course, the latter part of his statement made little sense and threw light on the fact that conservative Republican-run “red-states” like Kansas have a dreadful reality to deal with.

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