• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Politics
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Gay Pride
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Men
  • Space
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Monkeypox
  • Film/TV

The ‘First Amendment Defense Act’ is the Vilest ‘Religious Freedom’ Bill of Our Time

Andy Towle September 13, 2015 Leave a Comment

First Amendment Defense Act

Earlier this summer we reported on a a disgusting new bill dubbed the First Amendment Defense Act, introduced by the two bigots pictured above, Rep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho), left, and Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah).

The Human Rights Campaign explained the measure:

The legislation would prohibit any adverse action by the federal government against an individual or organization for discriminatory actions against legally married same-sex couples as long as they claim they are acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. “Adverse action” is broadly defined to include the denial or revocation of a federal tax status or deduction; denial of a federal grant, contract, loan, benefit or employment; or any other act of discrimination. The bill provides individuals and organizations the right to sue the federal government for monetary damages in federal court.

If passed, this legislation would create a breakdown of government services and runaway litigation.  It would permit a federal employee, for example, to refuse to process tax returns, visa applications or Social Security checks whenever a same-sex couple’s paperwork appears on his or her desk.  This legislation would also permit recipients of federal grants and contracts, including those for social services programs like homeless shelters and substance abuse treatment programs, to turn away LGBT people.  It allows any of these individuals or groups, or anyone else who believes they have been somehow required by the federal government to approve of married same-sex couples, to file a lawsuit and potentially receive damages from taxpayer money.

Yesterday, The New York Times editorial board attacked the bill, warning that it would “it would deliberately warp the bedrock principle of religious freedom under the Constitution.”

They add:

As critics of the bill quickly pointed out, the measure’s broad language — which also protects those who believe that “sexual relations are properly reserved to” heterosexual marriages alone — would permit discrimination against anyone who has sexual relations outside such a marriage. That would appear to include women who have children outside of marriage, a class generally protected by federal law.

This bizarre fixation on what grown-ups do in their bedrooms — which has long since been rejected by the Supreme Court and the vast majority of Americans — is bad enough. The bill makes matters worse by covering for-profit companies, which greatly multiplies the potential scope of discrimination against gays and lesbians.

Though the bill’s chances are slim, its broad right-wing support (“The bill has 148 co-sponsors in the House and 36 in the Senate — all Republicans but one, Representative Daniel Lipinski of Illinois. It has been endorsed by the Republican National Committee and at least four Republican presidential contenders”) should serve as a warning that the fight to retain LGBT rights and protections is far from over and we must continue to be vigilant against efforts to take them away from us.

Topics: Politics, towleroad More Posts About: discrimination, gay marriage, gay rights, Mike Lee, Raul Labrador, Religious Freedom, Republican Party

Related Posts
  • Former Roommate Indicted For Murder Of Florida LGBTQ Activist Jorge Diaz-Johnston, One of the Public Faces In State Fight For Marriage Equality
  • Survivor Benefits Payments For Same-Sex Partners Are Being Paid Under Biden, But Many Don’t Even Know They Qualify
  • Jim Obergefell, Plaintiff In The Supreme Court Case That Won National Marriage Equality, is Running For Ohio State House
  • Country music stars distance themselves from NRA after school massacre

    Country music stars distance themselves from NRA after school massacre

    Published by AFP Country musician Lee Greenwood addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference 2022 in Orlando, Florida on February 27, 2022 New York (AFP) – Country music has long been closely linked to America’s pro-gun lobby, …Read More »
  • Protests at NRA convention in Texas, but speakers reject new gun laws

    Protests at NRA convention in Texas, but speakers reject new gun laws

    Published by Reuters By Arathy Somasekhar HOUSTON (Reuters) -Protesters holding signs and crosses with photos of victims from the Texas elementary school shooting protested Friday outside the National Rifle Association’s annual convention in Houston, as the …Read More »
  • Portia De Rossi hails Ellen DeGeneres as her ‘idol’

    Portia De Rossi hails Ellen DeGeneres as her ‘idol’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Ellen DeGeneres is Portia de Rossi’s “idol”. The ‘Arrested Development’ star heaped praise on her wife as she hosted her last-ever episode of her long-running chat show. Portia, 49, shared a …Read More »
  • David Beckham doesn’t think footballers coming out should be ‘strange’

    David Beckham doesn’t think footballers coming out should be ‘strange’

    Published by BANG Showbiz English David Beckham doesn’t think it should be “strange” for gay footballers to come out. The former England captain – who has Brooklyn, 23, Romeo, 19, Cruz, 17, and 10-year-old Harper with …Read More »
Previous Post: « Legal Team in Obergefell Marriage Case Bills State of Ohio for $1.1 Million
Next Post: Awesome Nature Video of the Day: Crocodile Torpedo »

Primary Sidebar

News

  • Harrowing new accounts emerge from Uvalde’s young survivors

    Harrowing new accounts emerge from Uvalde’s young survivors

  • Russia steps up battle for eastern Ukraine

    Russia steps up battle for eastern Ukraine

  • Don McLean, Larry Gatlin Pull Out Of NRA Convention Concert In Texas

    Don McLean, Larry Gatlin Pull Out Of NRA Convention Concert In Texas

  • Trump must testify in New York probe, appeals court rules

    Trump must testify in New York probe, appeals court rules

Break

  • Johnny Depp rumoured to be signed for ‘Beetlejuice 2’

    Johnny Depp rumoured to be signed for ‘Beetlejuice 2’

  • Abba ‘need to recoup £140m from digital show’ after splashing out on flashy Abba-tars from George Lucas firm

    Abba ‘need to recoup £140m from digital show’ after splashing out on flashy Abba-tars from George Lucas firm

  • Prince William holds future of British monarchy in his hands

    Prince William holds future of British monarchy in his hands

  • Justin Timberlake has sold his song catalogue in a deal reportedly worth 100 million dollars

    Justin Timberlake has sold his song catalogue in a deal reportedly worth 100 million dollars

RSS Partner Links

  • OMG, I’m Gay! Ellen has ended her daytime TV show after 19 seasons
  • Gay Man Dead After Night Out In NYC — Who Killed Him? Who Robbed Him?
  • OMG, new music: ‘Count 2 Ten’ by Deer
  • Chris Colfer spends birthday exploring castles
  • Saturday Round-Up: “Hacks” cruise; Laverne Cox; Isaiah Rashad; Matthew Morrison; “Top Gun” & more!
  • Birthday Sluts
  • Song of the Day: 'The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game' by Blondie
  • On the Rag, Vol. 710
  • Saturday 'Stache

Most Recent

  • As U.S. states restrict abortions, pro-choice lawmakers look to Mexico

    As U.S. states restrict abortions, pro-choice lawmakers look to Mexico

  • Country music stars distance themselves from NRA after school massacre

    Country music stars distance themselves from NRA after school massacre

  • Protests at NRA convention in Texas, but speakers reject new gun laws

    Protests at NRA convention in Texas, but speakers reject new gun laws

  • Portia De Rossi hails Ellen DeGeneres as her ‘idol’

    Portia De Rossi hails Ellen DeGeneres as her ‘idol’

  • David Beckham doesn’t think footballers coming out should be ‘strange’

    David Beckham doesn’t think footballers coming out should be ‘strange’

  • Legislators and LGBTQ advocates call out State Farm after insurance giant pulls support for gender identity program

    Legislators and LGBTQ advocates call out State Farm after insurance giant pulls support for gender identity program

  • Florida orders Orange County schools to reveal who bought ‘Gender Queer’ book for libraries

    Florida orders Orange County schools to reveal who bought ‘Gender Queer’ book for libraries

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 · Log in