Gay rights groups feel they are under siege

[DonViejo]

BY LYDIA WHEELER - 10/11/17 06:00 AM EDT

-snip-

In February, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos rolled back Obama-era guidance that allowed transgender people to use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.

In August, President Trump ordered the Department of Defense to stop accepting transgender people in the military, following a series of tweets announcing the policy change a month earlier.

Last month, the administration filed a Supreme Court brief in support of a Colorado baker who says he shouldn’t be forced under the state’s anti-discrimination laws to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding.

Last week, Sessions reversed course on an Obama-era policy that extended sex discrimination protections in the workplace to transgender people, stating in a memo leaked to BuzzFeed that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act does not cover “gender identity, including transgender status.” And on Friday, Sessions issued guidance for federal agencies on protecting religious liberty in employment, contracting and programming. Critics denounced the order as allowing religious organizations to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

-snip-

more
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/354829-gay-rights-groups-feel-they-are-under-siege

[edhopper]

1. They are

under siege.

[Solly Mack]

2. Because they are under attack.

[Oneironaut]

3. They are testing the waters for harsher discriminatory practices

The end goal is to strip transpeople of their identities (and possibly, ultimately, their freedoms and lives). Also, there’s a reason why transpeople are lumped in with gays, lesbians, bisexuals, etc. We’re all in this together. If they come for one, they’ll feel emboldened to expand into other groups they hate.

[workinclasszero]

4. But..but..

We were assured by many, Jill Stein, Susan Sarandon etc that there was no difference between the democratic and republican party!

What happened??

[Irish_Dem]

5. This breaks my heart. nt

[dembotoz]

6. canary in the coal mine

[workinclasszero]

8. Yep

First they came for the PoC...

Then they came for gay folks...

Then they came for...

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

7. K&R