Religious freedom measure fails in Missouri House

On Wednesday, a panel in the Missouri House failed to approve a religious freedom measure attracting national controversy.

The House Emerging Issues Committee had a 6-6 vote on Senate Joint Resolution 39, failing to move it any further the state legislature. If the constitutional amendment was passed by lawmakers and then voters, businesses could refuse services for same-sex couples and their weddings.

The proposal already passed the Senate last month after a lot of debate, including a record, 40-hour filibuster.

PROMO, an advocacy for the LGBT community, reports the state representatives who voted against SJR39 are: Rep. Jeremy LaFaver, Rep. Mike Colona, Rep. Jim Hansen, Rep. Sharon Pace, Rep. Caleb Rowden, and Rep. Anne Zerr.

“We are grateful to the Emerging Issues committee for searching their hearts, listening to both sides of this issue, and doing the right thing today ,” said Steph Perkins Executive Director of PROMO.