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Republicans in Kansas are backtracking on a new bill that would have allowed discrimination against gay and lesbian couples to occur without fear of legal retribution.

House Bill 2453, as drafted and passed by the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives by a vote of 72-49, would give any individual, business, group, or government official the right to deny same-sex couples a host of basic goods, services, benefits, or employment – on the grounds of a conflicting “sincerely held religious belief.”

When introduced to the Senate, Republican President Susan Wagle said the bill goes beyond protecting religious freedom. She raised concerns about how the measure could impact businesses that would refuse services to gay couples. This came as a result of the strong reactions across the country and from several businesses, organizations and employers in Kansas, including AT&T, who issued statements urging legislators to stop the measure or rework it. The businesses said the provisions would hurt them and in some cases place them at odds with their own nondiscrimination policies.

Wagle said there is also concern that local and state government employees could refuse to provide services, such as fire and police protection, in certain circumstances to gays and lesbians.

Opponents of the bill say Republicans are reducing married same-sex couple’s status to a second-class equivalent of African Americans in the days of southern segregation. As Patricia Sloop, Democratic member of the Kansas House, put it: “I strongly support religious freedom, but this bill is not about religious freedom. In my opinion, this is about legalized discrimination.”

The business coalition, Kansas Chamber, praised Wagle for her intervention, which puts a halt to HB 2453 in its current form. But House Speaker Ray Merrick is busily working to rework the bill, and noted the intent of the measure was never to discriminate but to protect religious liberties. Other House Republicans agree. In defending the bill when introduced to the House floor, Republican state Rep. Charles Macheers absurdly proclaimed that “discrimination is horrible. It’s hurtful. … It has no place in civilized society, and that’s precisely why we’re moving this bill.”

Thomas Witt, executive director of Equality Kansas, said “If the Senate chooses to move forward with hearings, we look forward to working with them to draft language that will protect the religious liberties of all Kansans, while at the same time ensuring the dignity of gay and lesbian couples across the state.”

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Carrie Stone