Written by: Jordan Hill

Gay people have the plague−at least that’s the way the Kansas House of Republicans seems to feel.

The Republicans are trying to pass a bill that will allow private businesses to kick gay couples out of their establishment. Cops do not have to help gay individuals if they call the police for help.

Furthermore, if a gay couple sues for discrimination and loses, they will be forced to pay the opposing business’s attorney’s fees.

The ignorance is astounding.

At least Jim Crow laws claimed to be equal, even though they were anything but equal. In this bill, Kansas is blatantly discriminating against gay couples.

The excuse for this behavior is that Kansas is protecting the people’s “religious liberty.” The bill states that cops can refuse to help gay couples, and business owners do not have to allow gay couples to be in their store if it violates their religious beliefs.

Gays can be banned from basically anywhere in the state of Kansas.

Quoted in an article on slate.com, Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle said that a majority of the state senators in her party would not vote for the bill. Wagle said they support “traditional marriage,” but don’t condone discrimination.

It’s hard to believe that in the year 2014 politicians are bringing back discrimination laws. History will always repeat itself, and it seems that the time is upon us to repeat the ignorant discrimination that our country fought against in the past.

It’s amazing that these politicians would have the audacity to write such a bill and expect it to pass. Thankfully, the Kansas Senate shot down the bill.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed a similar bill on Wednesday night that caused a national outrage. After hearing both arguments for and against the bill, Gov. Brewer decided to strike down the bill, saying the bill would create more problems than solutions.

However, in Uganda, a law was passed that, amazingly, is worse than the bill in Arizona. Citizens of Uganda can be sentenced to jail time if they commit or support homosexual acts. This penalty is light compared to the first idea of punishment, which was death.

The only hope is for people to realize how ignorant and selfish this bill is. It’s up to those who believe in compassion to provide everyone with equal service.

When will these people learn? The time of acceptance and compassion is now. Discrimination belongs in the past.