Bill Allows Faith Based Groups To Discriminate Against Gay Workers

(Washington) Legislation to allow faith-based groups which receive federal money to circumvent local and state human rights laws protecting LGBT workers has passed the House of Representatives.

The Workforce Investment Act passed by a 224 - 200 vote after Republicans defended the hiring language.

President Bush praised the move and called on Congress to expand the hiring language to other federal programs.

The Workforce Investment Act would repeal workplace protections in job training programs signed into law by President Reagan and written by then-Senator Dan Quayle. Specifically, it would allow religious organizations, which receive federal funding to operate job training programs, to discriminate in employment based on religious grounds - including objections to an individual’s sexual orientation.

House Democrats argued that the bill amounts to government-sanctioned discrimination.

“This provision is offensive, ugly, wrong,” said Rep. Jim McGovern, Massachusetts Democrat. “It is a slippery slope from here on out and I fear this is just the beginning.” (source)

I agree with Representative McGovern, it is a slippery slope and it’s just the beginning. I’ve often felt that gays are really just a convenient group to use right now, for two reasons: 1) we have been in the news a lot in the last year or two, and usually portrayed in unfavorable ways, and 2) we are, despite the progress we have made, still a hugely unpopular minority in this country.

We have made progress, but with gay marriage, gay adoption, gay bashings, and the military issues for gays in the news every single day, our community is taking it on the chin big time now, and it’s going to stay that way for some time, at least as long as the current administration is in power.

This is not to say that this is altogether a bad thing. One thing that I have to keep telling myself all the time is that just the mere fact that people are talking about our issues will make people think about our issues. That is how change takes place. It will force the less stable to react in bad ways. For some, they will feel that it is their civic duty to drive to the polls to say in a resounding voice that they do indeed want this group of people discriminated against in their state constitution. It may mean that the government will take further punitive action against gay troops by reinforcing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and passing a much more mean spirited version of the bill (automatic dishonorable discharge). It may mean that states will begin passing legislation that will make it more difficult for gay families to adopt children (Florida now has a ban and Virginia entertained the idea this year).

There are many ways they could react, but whatever the reaction is, they are thinking about us as a community; their brothers, their neighbors, their sons, their daughters. And they are actively and consciously making us less by taking these actions.

This is what our federal government is now doing through this legislation. We are at the top of the laundry list because it is still acceptable in this country to blatantly discriminate against our community. But trust me, this government will not stop there. I knew that when I started to see federal money (OUR money) being spend on “Faith Based Initiatives” (so much for the separation of church and state). When they started down that road, I knew they had an agenda, and I knew it would be sooner rather than later that our community would be directly effected by this. So who will be next? Here are a few scenarios for you...

A young teen who is suicidal turns to a “faith based” organization funded by our federal government, for help. The organization discovers that the teen is are gay or lesbian and are afraid that if their parents and friends find out, they will be rejected. They feel trapped and hopeless, and that their world is going to fall apart (sounds like I know from personal experience, doesn’t it?). The organization tells the teen that the only options are to give their life to Christ and pray for forgiveness, or go to Hell. The organization will do this because to condone or approve of the teens sexual orientation would be to go against what the organization believes in. Of course, to help with the prayer and counseling, the organization will probably inform the parents as well. Now the teen truly has only two choices. If he/she is strong enough, they may be able hold on until they are old enough to leave, giving the illusion that they are turning straight. The other option is suicide.

A young woman finds out she is pregnant. Not knowing where to turn, she turns to a “faith based” organization for help. An abortion is not in the picture (and no, I’m not advocating one way or the other) since the organization does not believe in that. They would advocate “abstinence only” before marriage, but since she is already pregnant, she must carry the baby to term. She can then keep the baby or put it up for adoption. Aborting it will be a mortal sin and she will go to Hell. Her parents will be informed as well.

I’m not making a judgment one way or the other in either of these scenarios. But one thing I think is just wrong is for our government to weigh in on these issues in favor of a “faith based” organization. I resent the fact that my tax dollars are going to organizations that will be making moral judgments against people. That is not the role of the government.

We have crossed a very dangerous line.