A Democratic Senate filibuster of a religious liberties amendment turned into a conversation about discrimination.
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A Democratic Senate filibuster of a religious liberties amendment turned into a conversation about discrimination.

Date: March 7, 2016
By: Madeline Odle
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
An ongoing Senate filibuster of a religious liberties amendment brought up a discussion of protecting freedoms Republican senators say are under siege.
RunTime: 0:38
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The proposed amendment would prohibit the state from imposing penalties on those who deny marriage goods and services to same sex couples for religious reasons.

Cassville Republican Senator David Sater said the U.S. Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage forces it on people whose religious beliefs oppose same sex marriage.

Actuality:  ONE.WAV
Run Time: 00:10
Description: "To me this is about freedom, freedom of religion, freedom to express your own beliefs, and freedom to act accordingly."
Senate Democrats argued the amendment pointedly targets and descriminates against the LGBT community.

 

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Madeline Odle.

Intro: 
Senate Democrats are still fillibustering an amendment they say descriminates against the LGBT community.
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OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The proposed amendment would keep the state from penalizing those who refuse service to same sex couples because of their religious beliefs.

Kansas City Democrat Senator Jason Holsman said he has a hard time allowing a religious community to persecute an entire group of people for something out of their control.

Actuality:  TWO.WAV
Run Time: 00:18
Description: "In my faith, we don't deal with the same obligation to separate individuals in our society who have chosen a different partner to be romantic with or to build a life with or to have a monogonous relationship with."
Republican senators backing the amendment argued that protection is necessary to prevent this intrusion of their religious freedoms.

 

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Madeline Odle.

Intro: 
Senate Democrats were riled up during a still ongoing filibuster an amendment to protect religious freedoms.
RunTime: 0:48
OutCue: SOC

Wrap: St. Louis County Democrat, Senator Scott Sifton, opposes the bill that aims to prevent the state from penalizing people who deny service to gay couples because of sincere religious beliefs.

Sifton said the proposed amendment is not about protecting freedoms, but about descriminating against the LGBT community.

Actuality:  THREE.WAV
Run Time: 00:21
Description: "And we're talking about people who, in Missouri, can be fired because of who they love. Today, they can be fired because of who they love. They still live in that danger and I understand, and am sensitive to the concern, the sincerely held religious concern."
Senators who support the bill say it does nothing to prevent same sex marriage, and is not descriminatory.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Madeline Odle.