Legislation that supporters call “religious freedom bills” continue to be debated in state legislatures across the country. Yesterday, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed legislation that allows mental health counselors and therapists to refuse to treat patients based on religious objections or personal beliefs.
Businesses are playing an increasingly vocal role in the debates over these laws, which opponents say allow discrimination against people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Following fallout from controversial bills in North Carolina and Mississippi, businesses across Texas are gearing up to take on similar bills in the legislature. Ashley Lopez from Here & Now contributor KUT in Austin reports.
Reporter
- Ashley Lopez, reporter at KUT, Austin. She tweets @AshLopezRadio.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.