Thursday, February 2, 2017

Via GLAAD: President Trump attacks LGBTQ Americans in reported national 'License to Discriminate' order

Administration deceives Americans with reported plans to legalize anti-LGBTQ discrimination across the country

According to The Nation, a leaked copy of a draft executive order reveals plans by the Trump administration to "legalize discrimination." This comes after President Donald Trump's misleading pledge earlier this week to leave in place federal workplace protections for LGBTQ people. The executive order, obtained by The Investigative Fund and The Nation, could allow for businesses, schools, and even healthcare providers to turn away LGBTQ people based on “religious freedoms.”
“If anything in this document were to become federal law, it would be a national license to discriminate, and it would endanger LGBTQ people and their families,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO. “Freedom of Religion does not mean the freedom to discriminate. If the Trump Administration moves forward with any of these unconstitutional and un-American policies, the chorus of public outcry will get even louder while the president’s approval ratings continue to crumble.”

President Trump’s planned anti-LGBTQ executive order, a draft of which was reported on by the media on Wednesday, is strikingly similar to Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) – a law Vice President Mike Pence championed and signed into law while governor. Public backlash to that law was immediate and severe, causing a $250 million economic panic, prompting companies to postpone business expansions, and derailing the state’s reputation as a welcoming place for all people.

So what could President Trump’s reported national 'License to Discriminate' order mean for LGBTQ Americans? Here’s a look at just some of what could take place as discrimination is enshrined in federal law.

WHAT TRUMP’S EXECUTIVE ORDER COULD MEAN FOR LGBTQ AMERICANS:

1) Employers without penalty may fire an LGBTQ person from their job because of religious freedom.

2) Child welfare and adoption services without penalty may deny LGBTQ couples the ability to adopt children.

3) Health care providers without penalty may deny LGBTQ people, including women, critical services that are important to their health needs.

4) Schools without penalty may openly discriminate against LGBTQ teachers, faculty, and students.

5) Government officials without penalty may deny LGBTQ people services – including county clerks who issue marriage licenses for couples.

6) Businesses without penalty may deny LGBTQ people services, including pharmacies, restaurants, beauty salons, sporting events, etc.

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