GOP rep offering bill protecting LGBTQ rights with religious exemptions

[brooklynite]

Source: The Hill

Utah Rep. Chris Stewart (R) is set to unveil legislation Friday with the goal of protecting LGBTQ+ individuals from discrimination while allowing religious exemptions for organizations to act on their beliefs.

The bill, called the Fairness for All Act, will reportedly protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in housing, employment, education and other public services, the Associated Press reported.

But the legislation also designates religious exemptions for organizations to act on beliefs that may exclude the LGBTQ community. It has received support from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The proposal would reportedly allow religious organizations like churches and schools to employ only those who align with their guidelines, in addition to prohibiting religious groups that oppose same-sex marriage from having their tax-exempt status revoked, the AP reported.

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/473330-gop-rep-offering-bill-protecting-lgbtq-with-religious-exemptions

[ToxMarz]

1. No thank you, the LGBTQ community doesn't need special rights

just their equal rights under the Constitution. And "the faithful" don't need and shouldn't have special rights either.

[UpInArms]

3. Churches already have tax exempt status

Other than that, they should GFT ... or get that status revoked

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. Exactly. Equal rights and the christianists don't need extra rights. . . . nt

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. Fuck that shit.

[beachbumbob]

4. coming from the GOP side, its a bit amazing to see and MAY mean a change in thinking

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. No way. It is a rearguard action protecting christian dominionism. It's huge barn doors open

If enacted then suddenly Chick-Fil-A and Hobby Lobby and a lot of other companies would declare themselves religious institutions.

Large apartment buildings would suddenly become churches.

And don't forget HOSPITALS as "religious institutions".

It's a stalking horse, the thin edge of the wedge for taking away abortion rights and women's rights.

[keithbvadu2]

5. "to act on their beliefs" - like stoning?

"to act on their beliefs" - like stoning?

[bucolic_frolic]

8. What exactly is Christian about legalized discrimination?

They need to work on their Christian beliefs before they try to write laws undermining them.

[Lonestarblue]

9. I'll listen to white evangelicals when they stop being hypocrites.

The Bible contains at least a hundred references to lying, and claiming it an abomination, such as

Proverbs 12:22 English Standard Version (ESV)

22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.

Yet there is no direct Bible verse saying that homosexuality itself is an abomination. Biblical scholars say that the languages of the time—Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek—did not have a word for homosexuality. So white evangelicals are using one verse in Leviticus to justify discrimination and even the criminalizing of homosexuality, yet they ignore the constant lying of their dear leader and continue to worship at his feet. No thank you. The sooner we eradicate this false brand of Christianity, the better off the country will be.

[lagomorph777]

10. That's fine, as long as religious people are exempt from protection too.

[bluestarone]

11. BULLSHIT!

BULLSHIT!

[OldBaldy1701E]

12. So, basically...

it is really just a means to further protect their tax exempt status when they refuse to perform a marriage ceremony for 'those people' while they happily offer it to anyone else... got it. The part about letting them only hire those who align with their views is not so bad... let's see how long such businesses last when they practice such a hiring restriction. (This is America... everything is a business...)

Also, trust me, they are not going to exclude the LGBTQ community when it comes to stoning.

[Bradical79]

13. NO, I'm tired of giving special protections for hate groups

No organization that discriminates on the basis of LGBTQI, race/ethnicity, or sex should receive tax exempt status.