Bossier legislator files ‘marriage and conscience act’

State Representative Mike Johnson (R-Bossier City) filed a bill just before the legislature’s Friday deadline he’s calling the “Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act.”

He says unlike religious freedom bills spurring controversy in Indiana and Arkansas, his measure doesn’t focus on religion but on preventing the government from discriminating against anyone based on that person’s view of marriage.

The bill would protect those who believe in traditional as well as same-sex marriage, he said.

“Advocates of same-sex marriage, they say that they fear an overzealous, uber-conservative governor one day who hypothetically would discriminate against them,” Johnson said. “You hear concerns that, ‘Oh, one day they’re gonna come after our advocacy organization and yank our non-profit status.’ So what this does is it precludes that from ever happening.”

But Equality Louisiana spokesman Matt Patterson, upon reading the bill, said it is “transparently an attack on LGBT families.” He also noted Johnson has made his career as a litigator for conservative Christian interests including promoting a traditional view of marriage.

“I think that if Representative Johnson is concerned about protecting gay people against discrimination, he should sign on as a co-author to HB 632 by Representative Karen St. Germain which would forbid anti-gay and anti-transgender discrimination in the workplace,” Patterson said.

Johnson’s bill lists people’s ability to obtain tax exemptions, tax deductions, employment retirement plans, state grants, loans, professional licenses, certifications, accreditations and other benefits as provisions to be guarded against possible state intervention.

It also specifically provides that its language is not to be used to reinterpret marriage as other than a “union of one man and one woman.”

Patterson sees Johnson’s move as way to thwart potential gains by same-sex rights advocates ahead of the Supreme Court’s decision on the matter, which is expected by late June.

“I think there is national movement afoot right now to put as many legal hurdles in the face of same sex couples as possible before that ruling goes into place,” Patterson said. “Once the Supreme Court has spoken, it’s going to be a lot harder to pass laws that directly contradict them, whereas right now there is still some room to throw up a roadblock.”

Adrienne Critcher, People Acting for Change and Equality political director, added Johnson’s concerns appear to be covered already by the First Amendment.

Johnson said his inspiration for the bill is a longtime interest in protecting religious and intellectual liberty. He said several other legislators agreed to partner with him on the initiative, but he declined to give their names.

“I suspect it will be a broad coalition. I know the governor is going to support it,” he said.

Twitter: @mayalau