The House adopted a resolution Friday that broadly responds to the Indiana law, condemning that and similar measures in other states.
Indiana has been in the national spotlight since the state adopted a law that critics say will allow businesses to refuse service to lesbians and gays. The Indiana Legislature revised the law Thursday in response to some of the criticism.
Gov. Peter Shumlin this week prohibited state agencies from sending employees to Indiana because of the new law. Following an announcement from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees that the group would not hold an October conference in Indianapolis as scheduled, Shumlin invited them to relocate it to Vermont.
The House resolution calls on Shumlin to extend the ban on official state travel to any states that have similar laws or adopt them in the future.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Indiana and Arkansas are the most recent of 21 states that have adopted Religious Freedom Restoration Acts, though it is unclear how many of those would be included in the travel ban.
The House passed H.R.8 with bipartisan support by a vote of 119 to 1. Thirty representatives, including members of both parties, were absent on Good Friday.
The final resolution was amended from a resolution that Rep. Paul Poirier, I-Barre, initially proposed a day earlier, which was more specifically targeted at Indiana.
After the first draft prompted some disagreement on both sides of the aisle, Poirier provided an amended version that broadened the scope of the resolution to states with similar laws and highlighted Vermont’s record, beginning with the 1992 prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation.
“Vermont has always stood up to protect the rights of people and I look at this as a way to say, you know, do what you want, Indiana state,” Poirier said after the vote. “But your actions go directly against the actions of Vermonters.”
Vermont lawmakers accepted an amendment from Rep. Anne Donahue, R-Northfield, that voices strong opposition from the House to state or federal laws that are discriminatory in any way — naming a slew of factors, including religion, sexual orientation, race, age and others.
Rep. Bill Lippert, D-Hinesburg, drafted language for the resolution that urges other states to adopt legislation that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
“We need to have nondiscrimination across the country and so far we have it only in 20 states and the District of Columbia,” Lippert said after the vote, referencing a map from the American Civil Liberties Union.
Rep. Warren Van Wyck, R-Ferrisburgh, cast the lone opposition vote.
“Vermont has plenty of challenges within its borders,” he wrote in an email statement after the vote. “I am not interested in passing judgments on the actions of the legislatures of the other 49 states unless they directly affect the substantive well-being of the State of Vermont and its residents.”
The resolution had broad support from members of both parties.
“As a member of our nation’s most diverse military in history, I applaud any condemnation of discrimination,” Rep. Job Tate, R-Mendon, said.
By chance, the adoption of H.R.8 corresponded with a visit to the Statehouse by 30 teens from Outright Vermont, a statewide organization that works with LGBT youth.
Melissa Murray, Outright Vermont’s executive director, said she thinks the resolution sends a “powerful message.” She applauded Vermont’s efforts, but noted that there is still a long way to go. Teens involved with Outright Vermont would like to see legislation that would make gender-neutral bathrooms more common in schools, Murray said.
“I think we’ve got really great protections but they’re not always enforced,” Murray said.
