Some Arizona Lawmakers Now Regret Backing That Lousy Anti-Gay Bill

By Night Editor | February 25, 2014 | 2:40pm

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Three Republican lawmakers are having a desperate change of heart regarding a bill that would make it legal for businesses to discriminate against gay patrons.

The fallout from this bill—one of the shittiest, worst bills ever—has been extraordinary, as many called for a boycott of the state (including two New Mexico lawmakers, who suggested spending money in their state instead of Arizona.) Now, according to Reuters, at least three Republicans who voted for the bill are backtracking like crazy, trying to save face in the wake of this shitstorm:

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The three state senators, who
initially voted in favor of the measure, said in a letter to Republican
Governor Jan Brewer that the proposal had been mistakenly approved in
haste and had already caused “immeasurable harm” to Arizona’s national
image.

“While our sincere
intent in voting for this bill was to create a shield for all citizens’
religious liberties, the bill has instead been mischaracterized by its
opponents as a sword for religious intolerance,” the senators wrote in
letter, by state Senators Adam Driggs, Steve Pierce and Bob Worsley.

“These
allegations are causing our state immeasurable harm,” the letter states. UMM, YEAH YOU THINK?

The lawmakers spoke to the media yesterday, trying to explain their change of heart:

“I had a lapse last week and I’m apologizing,” Sen. [Worsley] told
News/Talk 92.3 KTAR’s Mac & Gaydos on Monday. “I’m going on the
record and saying we made a mistake.”

Worsley and two other state senators, Adam Driggs and Steve Pierce, called on Gov. Jan Brewer to veto SB 1062 on Monday. “We made a mistake and we’re manning up to it,” said Worsley.

But wait—your rage stroke isn’t going to subside just yet. (Emphasis mine):

The three senators all said they didn’t expect the bill to pass, since
it compounded on current Arizona law and a similar bill was struck down
last year. “Three to five of us were very uncomfortable with the bill,” Worsley said.

They didn’t expect it to pass. But they were totally cool with wasting a bunch of taxpayer money doing some bullshit grandstanding, and now that’s it backfired and they realize how absolutely horrible this thing would be for their state, they’re running around on a makeshift apology tour. Oh, OK then. No biggie. You just left a bunch of gay residents in Arizona scared to death that they were about to start living in some bigoted dystopian nightmare. But you’re “sorry.” You felt “uncomfortable.” OK, great.

After seeing the bill, people around the world began to rip on Arizona.
Worsley said he’s aware of how it’s being looked at on the global stage
and, as someone who ran after the passing of Senate Bill 1070, an
immigration law, he wanted to move the Legislature away from ideological
voting.

Well, that’s a fantastic idea! The rest of us here in Sane People Land would like to see that happen to, senator.

All I have to say about this now is BEHOLD THE POWERS OF GEORGE TAKEI. Behold them. He is a sorcerer.

Image via AP Images.