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State Rep. Sally Kern Withdraws Anti-Gay Bill

Oklahoma State Legislature

An Oklahoma legislator who has introduced several anti-gay bills for the upcoming session is withdrawing one measure because she says it didn't accomplish what she intended.

State Rep. Sally Kern said Thursday she has decided to withdraw her bill that would have allowed Oklahoma businesses to refuse service to any lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender person or group. Kern says her intention was to provide immunity from civil liability to business owners who refuse to provide a product or service to a gay person, like a baker who refuses to make a cake for a gay wedding.

Several similar measures have been introduced by other Republican legislators.

Kern still is sponsoring bills to authorize so-called "conversion therapy" for gay children and punish state workers for issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

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