One month ago today, we experienced the worst mass shooting in American history. At the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, 49 innocent people died and 53 others were injured in the shooting.
A House hearing is scheduled today, July 12, to talk about the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA). This bill would make LGBT discrimination legal. Government contractors would be allowed to get federal money even if they oppose hiring LGBT workers.
It also allows businesses to refuse goods and services to customers who offend their “religious beliefs.” This is obviously targeting the LGBT community. Same-sex couples could be denied services for their weddings. The bill would also not protect any LGBT people from discrimination; they wouldn’t have any way to petition the government when the experience discrimination.
Jim Obergefell, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage, said this in an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) press release:
“The Orlando tragedy on June 12 was a time of heartbreak for millions around the world and the worst attack on the LGBT community in our nation’s history. Today, exactly one month after this horrifying event, this hearing is deeply hurtful to a still-grieving LGBT community. It is difficult for me to imagine why anyone would think such discrimination should be permitted in the year 2016. I believe that the United States Congress must be better than this and it is my sincere hope that Congress will move away from elevating proposals that only serve to harm vulnerable communities.”
This Act is called a “defense” of the First Amendment, but that is misleading. The First Amendment doesn’t have any words that allow discrimination. The Act grants special rights for individuals with:
“…Religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.”
This law is basically giving the government power to subsidize people who are against the LGBT community.
President Obama is opposing this bill. A White House statement said:
“We strongly oppose attempts to roll back non-discrimination protections for LGBT Americans. It’s disturbing that Congressional Republicans plan to hold a hearing tomorrow on discriminatory, anti-LGBT legislation. President Obama remains firmly committed to promoting and defending the equal rights of all Americans, including the rights of LGBT Americans.”
The hearings are on-going today. Here is Chairman Chaffetz giving the opening statement of the hearing:
