There is no discrimination in Arizona, argues one Republican state lawmaker.
State Sen. Al Melvin (R), a candidate for governor who voted for Arizona’s SB 1062 legislation, argued on CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360” Monday night that the bill was meant to preemptively protect religious freedom and not to discriminate against LGBT individuals.
So Cooper asked Melvin if he could cite a case where religious freedom was “under attack” in Arizona. Melvin bizarrely responded “not now, no, but how about tomorrow?”
Cooper then tested Melvin with a hypothetical: what if he were a loan officer, and thought it was against his religious beliefs to do business with an unwed mother or a divorced woman?
That’s when Melvin’s argument imploded. “I think you’re being farfetched,” the lawmaker told Cooper.
“I don’t know of anybody in Arizona that would discriminate against a fellow human being,” he later added.
“Really? Discrimination doesn’t exist in Arizona?” Cooper asked.
“Well, maybe you ought to move to Arizona,” the lawmaker responded. “We’re more people-friendly here, apparently.”
Watch below, courtesy of CNN:
