Missouri Senate democrats continue to filibuster to try to block the state legislature from codifying an anti-gay discrimination into state law via Senate Joint Resolution 39..  They have been speaking out against the bill since Monday afternoon.

The amendment that would protect any religious organization and individuals who oppose same-sex marriage and would protect those who wish to discriminate from any government “penalty.” The state would be prohibited from altering the tax treatment of an organization or denying it any accreditation, license, or certification. One section specifically refers to withholding any benefit, custody award, foster home placement, or adoption, indicating protections specifically for child placement agencies that would refuse to serve same-sex families.

· No penalty for a religious organization because it acts in accordance “with a sincere religious belief concerning marriage between two persons of the same sex.”

· No penalty for any religious leader who declines to solemnize a marriage “because of a sincere religious belief concerning marriage between two persons of the same sex.”

· No penalty on any church or other house of worship for refusing to make its buildings or facilities open to a marriage ceremony “because of a sincere religious belief concerning marriage between two persons of the same sex.”

· No penalty for any individual “who declines either to be a participant in a marriage or wedding ceremony or to provide goods or services of expressional or artistic creation for such a marriage or ceremony… because of a sincere religious belief concerning marriage between two persons of the same sex.”

Because it’s a constitutional amendment and not a statute, it would have to be approved by the voters of Missouri and once again would civil rights would be subject to a vote and much worse enshrine discrimination into the voting process

Democrat Maria Chappelle-Nadal said that she believes that they could filibuster for at least 24 hours, noting that they are already over two-thirds of the way there. “I can do this all day,” she said. “This is my prime time.” At that point, she and Sen. Jill Schupp (D) had been debating the measure by themselves for three hours.

At the time of this writing they are still going strong at 20 hours straight. Excuse the pun.