"In
Nevada we have an inmate suing a chaplain for refusing to
conduct a marriage ceremony for this man and his male
friend," said Reid January 28 on the floor of the
Senate.
"The plaintiff and his friend are both
members of the Universal Life Church which he claims
allows two people of the same sex to marry."
Other Nevada inmates, said Reid, are alleging
their ability to practice a religion is being denied, in
violation of the first amendment, "because they want
special services, including incense and special
jewelry."
The suits are a national problem, said Reid,
as he introduced legislation he said would address the
issue.
"One prisoner in New York has filed 3,000
lawsuits," he said.
"What are these lawsuits about? In
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Nebraska there was a
lawsuit filed because an inmate thinks he is a woman
trapped in a man's body and strip searches by male prison
officials are not allowed by his religion.
"We have another case where a satanic
group--they are in prison, of course--filed suit because
they were not given unbaptized baby fat for their
candles."
Reid says his proposed legislation, U.S.
Senate Bill 206, would prohibit the application of the
Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, or any
amendment made by such act, to individuals incarcerated
in Federal, State, or local correctional, detention, or
penal facilities.
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