Think tank with ties to Trump says 'religious freedom' means no LGBT protections

[DonViejo]

Source: LGBTQ Nation


By Jeff Taylor · Thursday, February 16, 2017

Conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation played a key role in the Trump transition team and are out with a new report offering their far right perspective on religious freedom laws that should concern all LGBTQ rights advocates.

The argument between the far right and more moderate conservatives lies in whether creating religious exemptions to nondiscrimination law is sufficient or if offering any protections for LGBTQ people is a step too far. The Heritage Foundation takes the view that to provide protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity are unjustified.

Current proposals to create new LGBT protections with varying types of religious exemptions will not result in fairness for all. Instead, they will penalize many Americans who believe that we are created male and female and that male and female are created for each other, the report, titled [link:http://www.heritage.org/marriage-and-family/report/how-think-about-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-sogi-policies-andHow to Think About Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Policies and Religious Freedom.]

The report goes on to claim that the burden is on their proponents to prove the need for such laws and that so far proponents have failed to carry their burden on all counts.


Read more: http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2017/02/think-tank-ties-trump-says-religious-freedom-means-no-lgbt-protections/

[randr]

1. For the Government to allow certain religious groups to discriminate against anyone for religious

reasons violates the separation of church and state as clear as day. They would be siding with one group over another based on a belief system.

[mpcamb]

18. I think this is a 'strawman' type of thing.

Not that there's not a real issue involved, but I think it's to distract and make people piss away a lot of energy and then land back on square one.
I think it's strategic, and there's something else they want to slip past the public while people are up in arms about this.
No way to prove it, but watch out for the next horrible thing they propose.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Religion was claimed as the reason for slavery and then for segregation. It stinks. . . nt

[Freethinker65]

3. I want a those using the religious freedom order to prominently have it posted at point of purchase

And displayed at the entryway of businesses. And put on license plates. And displayed in residential windows.
I would also like to see what religion they profess to belong to along with a checklist of who/what they choose to discriminate against. Then I will be free to exercise my own non-religion discrimination accordingly.

[unblock]

5. kinda like "whites only" signs, huh?

[LanternWaste]

6. Religion is chosen rather than genetic. So... no.

Religion is chosen rather than genetic. So... no; a more accurate analogy would be the sign reading "this is a smoking establishment"

[unblock]

9. you want them to say "christian business, therefore, straights only"?

the way some "christian" businesses once said "whites only"?

[starshine00]

19. I would like to know if they don't want to serve me

because I sure as hell don't want to be their patron if they are against my existence

[unblock]

24. i hear you, and i would avoid such businesses like the plague,

but i don't want to bring back the 1950s....

[starshine00]

27. these people would put up those signs in a heartbeat

you are right about that, sadly, I can see 'no queers' signs everywhere if they had their way.

essentially, this is what the confederate flag means in the south. they can't openly block people but they can make people feel unsafe and go elsewhere if they see one hanging in a store.

[Freethinker65]

10. That seems to be where this is headed and I am totally against this religious freedom bullshit.

I want to know what religion these religious freedom discriminators profess to belong to. I want them to be exposed as hypocrites and shunned. I have lived ok without religion, but tolerant of others, for decades.

[unblock]

4. arrrrgh! if you have a religious objection to teh gay sex, just don't have it!

what logical contortions they have to go through to then say, alone among the many sins they say exist, they can't even serve cakes to someone who has had the gay sex.

ridiculous!

these people surely serve cakes to murderers, rapists, adulterers, blasphemers, people who have violated each of the ten commandments, etc.

that's ok, after all, let he who is without sin cast the first stone, and besides, none of us are without sin, and there would be no business if you could only serve the pure.

but teh gay sex, no, that's something else entirely!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

7. It's funny how religious conservatives worry more about gay sex than gays.

Most gays, especially those in a stable relationship, and super-especially those married, are concerned about the mortgage, healthcare, the environment, putting gas in the car, office politics, planning grocery shopping around meals, mopping up the floor where the dog had an accident, deciding whether to reroof the house this year or next, monitoring their weight, downloading music from an online seller, binging on Big Bang Theory, unstacking the dish washer, ...

It's almost as if Republicons want gays and lesbians to have uncommitted wild sex. Especially if they can watch lesbians streamed over the internet.

[unblock]

8. yes, opposing gay marriage means, what, wanting to make sure gay people are single and available...?

i know, i know. in truth, it's all about hate. gay people want marriage, therefore haters gotta say no.

[Dave Starsky]

11. I have never understood why anyone comfortable...

with their own sexuality would give a rat's ass about who is fucking whom, assuming that consenting adults are involved.

Every single one of these clowns who crusade against the gays eventually turns out to have secret proclivities of their own--all too often involving minors, unfortunately.

[starshine00]

20. it kills me...where is the 'we don't serve pedophiles' sign

oh wait, pedophilia is a holy sacrament of the religionists...

[gay texan]

12. I knew this was coming

What is it with these people? I'm a guy. I find guys really attractive, so muc that i'd like to have a boyfriend/husband.

Yet you bible thumping fuckwits deem it necessary to hound me at my pride parades, strip away my rights, possibly fuck me out of employment all because a desert fairytale says we are an abomination of some form.

Seriously, fuck off.....

[starshine00]

21. yep

we are the bad ones, yet incest, child rape, child genital mutilation, domestic violence, corporal punishment of children, etc etc etc are all sacraments. So tired of this b.s.

[Buckeyeblue]

13. The same circular fucking argument

If it is against my religion but you protect it, you have violated my religious freedom. It's dumb. And every time we hear it, the only response that should be made is this: that is a stupid fucking argument.

Things (including my hope) are in a rapid free-fall.

[Sunlei]

26. what always surprises me is a 'charity' like Republicans Heratige Foundation spends MILLIONS on

"The same circular fucking arguments" Republican propagandas a multi-billion dollar industry these days.

Just think what America could be if those billions were spent for the public GOOD by these scam foundations.

[Buckeyeblue]

29. Definitely

Think of the work we could do for children in poverty and to prevent unwanted pregnancy with all of the money the anti- choice crazies have spent trying to deny freedom.

[Sunlei]

30. That same Republican 'charity' foundation spent millions flying ALL RW congress to Israel last

year for some 'closed door' meetings. They meddle in peace process for some hidden agenda. These Foundations are POLITICAL groups for ONLY the RW agenda.

I don't understand how they get away with paying no taxes and are classed as a charity on IRS. It's a Republican group, they can do anything they want with 'donation millions'.

The shouldn't get away with allowing those donations to be tax deductions on a donors tax returns. They shouldn't be able to get away with not having to pay ANY STATE or FEDERAL taxes.

billions of dollars are washed through those kind of FAKE charities called Foundations, they have a huge payroll and only service Republican party interests.

[Buckeyeblue]

32. Great way to get around anti money laundering laws

[SharonClark]

14. Well, its against my religion to be discriminated AGAINST

how would that work out for them?

[Behind the Aegis]

15. Add another one to the pile.

There are scores of these bills all over the US and most people are unaware they are happening. It is another bone of contention for me, as well. Too many people are "accusing" gays of getting off easy with the new administration because the "president" hasn't attacked us directly; well, this is WHY. Shit like this means HE doesn't have to attack us, his minions will do it.

[starshine00]

22. yep it is their tried and true tactic with abortion as well

they are not going to overturn Roe v. Wade because that will lose them a huge chunk of one issue voters. They must have figured out to try to screw lgbt folks at the state and local level so that they still have this wedge issue in presidential elections.

[Little Tich]

16. This sounds like Newspeak.

The right to freedom from discrimination means that a person has the right not to be discriminated against. It never gave people the right to discriminate against others due to religious beliefs.

I'm not surprised that Trump buys into this crap though.

[starshine00]

23. he actually doesn't but he really doesn't care one way or the other

whatever makes his base more loyal to him he will do probably in the end.

[sc1line]

17. Freedom FROM Religion Please!!!

[Sunlei]

25. if that Republican political tax-free charity helps Mr Trump why isn't Trump speaking with them?

Have to tweet @POTUS immediately so he notices and makes Heritage Foundation finish the transition. He reads every tweet.

[wordpix]

28. LGBT people could form their own Church of LGBT & claim religious freedom

laws apply to them too!

as in "Our religious beliefs include the right to be, be with and marry anyone of any color, creed, gender or sexual orientation." Then let the Xtian fundies claim their "religious rights" are greater than LGBT's religious rights---the fundies won't get too far with that argument.

Of course, it's Trumpworld now...

[Solly Mack]

31. K&R

Nothing but a bunch of haters.