Tennessee Senator Brian Kelsey recently proposed a bill that would allow restaurants in the state to ban service to gay couples. The state legislature of Arizona is considering a similar bill.

Way to take a leap back in acceptance, America.

While the bills were tabled soon after being proposed, the bills reveal dangerous homophobic attitudes. This type of sexual orientation segregation is disturbing.

As soon as the media begins moving forward in showing that being gay is no longer the most important thing about a person, we do something like this. On one side we have men like Michael Sam who help denounce the stereotype of ‘gay’ meaning ‘not masculine.’ On another, we have bills that promote the idea that the sexual orientation of a person can be physically observed.

Things had been going so well, too. Media has just started promoting the idea that sexual orientation does not make anyone unequal to another.

Vampire Diaries is writing its first openly gay character. Having a gay character does not just mean writing a character’s coming out story across several different episodes. The character needs depth- backstory, quirks, dreams, and favorite colors. They should have the same elements of personality that any straight character would have.

Advertising also seemed to reflect the fact that sexual orientation segregation is nearing an end. Commercials featuring gay couples driving Chevrolets and families hugging for Coca-Cola were shown during the Olympics and Super Bowl.

Then bills like this are passed, curtailing such progress – even as states like Texas announce the legalization of gay marriage. Business owners that have announced anti-gay policies, like Chick-fil-A, can refuse to serve gay couples. If a person “looks gay,” then they can be refused service whether or not they are actually gay. A single look can determine whether a person is helped or shown the door.

One small step for tolerance, one giant leap back for equal rights.