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Jefferson City, Mo. • A filibuster by Democrats in the Missouri Senate pushed past the 24-hour mark Tuesday as they tried to block a Republican proposal to add greater religious protections to the Missouri Constitution for some business owners and individuals opposed to gay marriage
The Missouri bill, which could go before voters later this year, highlights the tension between civil rights and religious liberties that still exist in many parts of the nation after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year that legalized same-sex marriages in all states.
The Missouri measure would prohibit government penalties against those who cite "a sincere religious belief" while declining to provide goods or services of "expressional or artistic creation" for same-sex marriage ceremonies or celebrations.
Though it doesn't list specific protected businesses, the measure comes after bakers and florists have faced legal challenges in other states for declining to provide services for same-sex weddings.
"No one should be compelled to make a work with their own hands that's offensive to their beliefs," Republican Sen. Bob Onder said.
His proposal also would shield clergy, places of worship and other religious organizations from being penalized for not participating in marriages involving same-sex partners.
Democrats said they had no problem with protecting pastors from being compelled to perform same-sex marriages but were concerned about the exemptions for some businesses. Some lawmakers invoked images of an era when businesses refused to serve people because of the color of their skin.
"You call it conscious protection; I call it blatant discrimination," said Democratic Sen. Jill Schupp.
Filibusters in Missouri can be halted by a majority vote, but that procedure is used sparingly, and Republican leaders said they preferred to simply wear down their opponents. Missouri's session runs through mid-May. That leaves plenty of time for the proposal, if passed by the Senate, to also move through the Republican-controlled House. It then would be submitted to statewide voters in either the August primary or November general election.