Source: The Guardian

Democrats assailed the amendment as hate masquerading as religious tolerance. Republicans took turns donning a “Beetlejuice”-style jacket on the senate floor. And both sides were invited to a midnight cupcake party.

But after more than 39 hours, the longest filibuster in recent Missouri history over a religious liberty bill came to an end on Wednesday morning.

Missouri senate Republicans halted debate on a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow businesses and clergy members to refuse working with same-sex couples. Senate Republicans voted 23 to 9 to pass the resolution and put the question on the state ballot later this year.

The end came via a parliamentary maneuver that Democratic senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal, who spoke for a total of 13 hours, said went against normal senate traditions and was “an absolute disgrace”.

Chappelle-Nadal criticized Republicans for their refusal to negotiate, saying that many of them spent the filibuster sleeping in their offices or playing card games while Democrats debated the issues.

“They’ve done a serious injury to the Senate,” she said. “They are acting like house members.”

The amendment is similar to religious liberty proposals in several other states that give wedding vendors and other similar businesses the option to refuse service if they can cite religious opposition to same-sex marriage.

LGBT advocacy groups have condemned the proposed amendment, comparing it to similar legislation in Kentucky and Indiana.

Chappelle-Nadal called the amendment “filled with hate” and cloaked in a “smokescreen of religion”.

Missouri Republicans framed the resolution not as an assault against the LGBT community, but rather a measure of protection for those whose religious views would prevent them from working with same-sex married couples.

Given the large majorities held by Republicans in the Missouri legislature, senate Democrats felt compelled to filibuster in an attempt to derail the process.