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BOISE • An Idaho lawmaker is pushing legislation that would allow businesses to deny services to gay people as long as they cited sincerely held religious beliefs.

Under the new bill, Idahoans would not lose their professional or occupational licenses if they refused to provide their services to an individual or a group because they were exercising their religion.

“We've seen the government attempt to come in and dictate who a church should hire for their personnel,” said state Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, to the House State Affairs Committee. “We’ve seen the government mandate health care which requires businesses and individuals to support paying for … contraceptions against their religious feelings.“

Under the bill, doctors could deny providing medical treatment to gay people or even unmarried mothers and not lose their medical license. The same would be allowed for teachers to deny educating one of their students if they were gay. The bill would also allow psychologists to provide faith-based services as long as they cited they were exercising their religion.

The bill does not, Luker said, protect individuals from being fired if they do choose to deny someone for religious reasons.