Thousands rally against wedding amendment

Members of the ACLU, PROMO and the Human Rights Campaignwere joined by religious and business leaders at the capitol to protest SJR 39.

Currently before the Missouri House of Representatives, this constitutional amendment would prevent the state from penalizing religious organizations or other wedding-related businesses from catering to same-sex marriages.

Supporters say this move would protect the religious freedom of business owners who don’t believe in the practice but opponents say it would legitimize discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

“It enshrines discrimination into our constitution, it is antithetical to the first amendment, and we have to make sure it stops in the House of Representatives,” saidSarah Rossi of the ACLU.

SJR 39 was the cause of a record-long filibuster in the Missouri Senate but the body eventually passed it after almost 40 hours.

Just days ago, the NCAA voiced concerns over the status of the legislation in Missouri.

The amendment is set to be considered by the Emerging Issues committee in April.