On Thursday, Montana's Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte put his support behind a bill supporters say would protect religious freedom. Opponents say it would allow for discrimination of LGBTQ Montanans.
Shawn Reagor, an organizer with the Montana Human Rights Network, told lawmakers that he knows the consequences of discrimination: he was once fired from a job for being part of the LGBTQ community.
“I beg you not to let the religious freedom that we all hold dear to be twisted into a weapon to cause such harm," Reagor said.
Lt. Gov. Kristen Juras
Bill sponsor Sen. Carl Glimm, R-Kila, said the "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" aims to protect against discrimination of religious people by government entities by giving them their "fair day in court." The Senate already endorsed Senate Bill 215 by a narrow two-vote margin.