“Equality” Shouldn’t Equal Intolerance

Congress plans to vote today on a bill that could—in effect—end religious freedom for Americans because it would require every school, business, and facility used by the public to allow men and women to share restrooms and locker rooms. It would also make abortion a civil right. The bill is the so-called Equality Act, which does not create equality. Instead, it raises the concepts of sexual orientation and gender identity even above the status of race and uses federal law to force everyone into submission.

Your rights as an American are on the line. Equality for all Americans is important, as is non-discrimination. But the First Amendment to the Constitution allows freedom of speech and free religious expression. This legislation specifically says that the Religious Freedom Restoration Act—the most recent law to guarantee freedom of religion—cannot apply as a defense if someone is charged with violating this law and “discriminating” against someone for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Practically speaking, this would make churches and people of faith subject to lawsuits, penalties and fines that could, in turn, drive their businesses out of existence. Intolerance toward religious belief and practice, in the name of “equality,” is still intolerance. Destroying protections for religious belief and practice is a price that no one should have to pay.

This is our final email giving you important information about the Equality Act. Our three emails yesterday explained how this bill could destroy religious freedom, and how it forces every school, every church, every business in the United States to mix their restrooms, locker rooms, and any venue or program that’s single sex.

The entire LGBTQ community does not support this legislation, in fact, there’s a segment of the women’s movement that has spoken out on how the Equality Act would destroy women’s sports. It’s already happening in in some states. Last year in Connecticut, parents of high school women track athletes began a petition to stop the practice of allowing a student to play on an athletic team of the gender with which they identify. Why? Two men “transitioning” to be females joined the women’s track teams at their high schools as “transgender women.” They not only won much of the time, but also dominated the state championships and took coveted slots away from the girls who were competing as women. Those high school women, in turn, have not only lost the ability to compete on a level playing field, but it lessens their ability to leverage athletic prowess into a college scholarship and/or a spot on a university athletic team.

The Equality Act also enshrines abortion by making it a federally protected civil right. As a protected civil right, abortion would be required as an option in Medicare and Medicaid funding. Health care providers could not refuse to participate in abortions or abortion counseling or refuse to refer a patient for an abortion – all of those would be “discrimination” under the terms of this legislation. Pro-life pharmacists would be required to dispense the “morning after pill” even if they consider it an abortifacient that would destroy life. Every American would be forced to fund abortion, encourage the “option” of abortion, and health care workers would be required to participate in abortions or face a legal charge of discrimination.

The effect? The First Amendment to the Constitution – promising free speech and free religious expression – just might be written out of law. If this concerns you, please consider supporting CBN News. Your gift of just $5, $10, or $15 today allows us to remain the leading voice in independent Christian journalism as we continue to shine a bright light on issues that matter most to you.

And don’t forget to watch CBN News live, and download the app!

CBN News. Because Truth Matters.