Gay Rights Group Mobilizes Against Religious Freedom Bill

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) – A gay rights group is mobilizing against a
bill before a Kansas House committee that supporters say is an
attempt to preserve religious freedom.
The House Judiciary Committee scheduled a hearing on the measure
Tuesday afternoon.
The bill would declare that state and local government policies
shall not "substantially burden" people’s right to exercise their
religious beliefs without showing a compelling interest and
imposing the burden in the least restrictive way possible.
The measure also would allow people to sue state and local
government agencies if they feel their religious freedoms have been
abridged
The Equality Kansas Coalition argues that the bill would nullify
local ordinances and state university policies barring
discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.