Arizona's Brewer Vetoes Anti-Gay Bill

It would have let businesses refuse service because of religious objections
By John Johnson,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 26, 2014 7:00 PM CST
Arizona's Brewer Vetoes Anti-Gay Bill
A file photo of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.   (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

It's been a good late-day stretch for gay rights. Hours after a federal judge in Texas struck down that state's ban on gay marriage, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer announced that she had vetoed a bill that critics say would encourage discrimination against homosexuals, reports CNN. The controversial SB 1062 would have let businesses refuse service because of religious objections, and Brewer said it "could divide Arizona in ways we could not even imagine and no one would ever want," reports AP.

Brewer's move had been expected given the widespread opposition to the measure from the business community and across the political spectrum. "The bill is broadly worded and could result in unintended and negative consequences," Brewer said at her press conference. She said she couldn't risk jeopardizing the state's recovering economy, including any threat to the 2015 Super Bowl, reports the Arizona Republic. (More Jan Brewer stories.)

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