On Wednesday February 26th, Arizona governor Jan Brewer vetoed a bill that would have allowed any business which has a known religious standpoint, for example Chick-Fil-A, to refuse service to gay or lesbian customers.  Gov. Brewer faced both cheers and opposition after hearing both sides of the argument.  The governor made it clear that she understood the norms of marriage and family structure but stated that “…our society is undergoing many dramatic changes.”  In addition Brewer said that the bill “…has the potential to create more problems than its purpose to solve.”

 The bill faced severe opposition from corporations and athletes including Major League Baseball and Delta Air Lines.  Brewer had stated that the bill would have caused a serious division in Arizona and to stop this division preemptively, Brewer acted as she thought was best.  “I call them as I see them, despite the cheers or the boos from the crowd,” said Brewer in a statement addressing the bill.

 Brewer has made it clear in the past week in her statements that vetoing this bill is a measure to stop massive divide in Arizona, and to prevent any legislations from causing discrimination against one group or people.

 Many gay rights advocates have called this bill “disgraceful” one of which being Doug Napier, an attorney representing the Alliance Defending Freedom.  The issue of this bill was not so much involved with hetero vs. homosexuality, but segregation vs. integration; discrimination vs. non-discrimination.

 Republican Demion Clinco who is the only openly gay member of Arizona’s HoR said he hope the governor’s  decision would start a new chapter in Arizona in terms of sensitivity and understanding towards the homosexual community.  Clinco said that the bill itself and the fact that it was put in front of the governor was a “setback” for the states lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.