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A Missouri House Committee has heard the first debate today on legislation that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s Human Rights Statute’s definition of “discrimination.”

The bill, HB 1930, sponsored by Republican Rep Kevin Engler (Farmington), drew support from Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Currently, under Missouri law, an employer can refuse to hire someone, a landlord can refuse to rent an apartment to, or a business can refuse to serve someone because that person is gay or lesbian.

Engler, who opposes same-sex marriage, said that “My idea is to bring these pro-business bills up on the floor, amend it and have debate,” and “If it gets to the floor, it has the votes to pass.”

The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Missouri oppose the bill because they are concerned about creating a new statutory protected class and the line of lawsuits that could come with it. Chamber General Counsel Jay Atkins told the committed that it could create an “entire new cause of action that exposes all Missouri employers to further liability under employment law.”

Associated Industries of Missouri President Ray McCarty echoed the concerns Atkins outlined about creating a new statutory protected class and the line of lawsuits that could come with it.

Committee chairman Rep. Bill Lant, R-Pineville, said he was not yet sure if the committee would vote on the bill. He said discrimination against LGBT individuals was an issue that needed to be addressed but care needed to be taken in adding another protected class.

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Carrie Stone