final approval to Senate Bill 215, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which says the state must show a compelling interest in “burdening the free exercise of religion.” Opponents say the measure, which now goes to the Montana House, would provide a defense for anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.Democratic Sen.
Bryce Bennett, who is gay, expressed strong objections to the bill during debate Saturday, Helena’s Independent Record reports. “There’s probably not a whole lot of people in the body who have a conversation when you roll up to a hotel with you and your partner and you have to decide, do we both go in or just one of us?” he said. “Because if they see us together, will they deny us the room?