"Religious Freedom" strikes again
Trump really wants to make it easier to fire queer people.
Is a recession coming? Maybe, but weren’t we still talking about getting something done on guns? Oh and here comes the Trump administration with another attack on LGBTQ rights. We just never get a break, do we?
Here are today’s stories:
Trump guts LGBTQ employment protections
The Obama administration issued an executive order requiring that the federal government and its contractors could not discriminate on the basis of LGBTQ identities. Today, the Trump administration announced its plans to gut that protection by allowing religious exemptions for discrimination. And LGBTQ folks aren’t the only ones the rule change could harm.
The executive order protecting federal workers lists many categories, but like its legal counterpart Title VII, it only gives religious organizations permission to discriminate on the basis of religion — not all the other categories like race, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Trump’s new rule would change that to allow any kinds of discrimination in the name of religion. So, while technically LGBTQ protections would still be listed, they wouldn’t mean anything if they can be ignored for religious reasons.
Unsurprisingly, anti-LGBTQ groups like the Heritage Foundation and Family Research Council were ecstatic. And as LGBTQ groups all cried foul — especially given Trump had promised never to rescind that executive order — the Labor Department had the gall to insist this change in no way contradicts the administration’s (imaginary) commitment on LGBTQ issues.
I had to laugh, because some Log Cabin Republican just published another rant at The Federalist this morning claiming how great Trump has been on LGBTQ issues, and he cited the maintenance of Obama’s executive order as one his (very few) examples. His very unpersuasive argument just got even weaker!
LGBTQ YouTubers sue for discrimination
A group of creators have filed suit against YouTube and Google, alleging that they are unfairly censoring LGBTQ content on the platform. YouTube’s algorithm has unfairly targeted videos that include terms like “gay,” “transgender,” and “bisexual,” they argue, even when the content is appropriate for all audiences.
Hate Group wins homeless shelter discrimination case
The Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-LGBTQ hate group, won a case this week in Anchorage, Alaska. After complaints were filed against a Christian homeless shelter there for discriminating against transgender women, ADF sued and argued that the city’s nondiscrimination ordinance should not apply. A federal judge agreed, though fortunately didn’t rule on any grounds related to “religious freedom,” declaring instead that a shelter is simply not a “public accommodation” under the law. That didn’t stop ADF from boasting otherwise.
Oregon hate crime law already enforced
Oregon’s hate crime law protecting LGBTQ people has only been in effect since July 15, but it’s already been applied in a criminal case. A 58-year-old-man named Robert Oden allegedly assaulted several gay Latino men as they excited the Portland nightclub CC Slaughters this weekend. He told them "to “go back to your country” before hitting them in the face.
Another homophobe hoarding guns
The FBI has arrested Ohio teen Justin Olsen, who was harboring 25 guns and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. He had threatened violence against Planned Parenthood and a gay bar, in addition to threatening the very federal agents who were investigating him.
Concerned woman concerned with pronouns
I follow conservatives mostly to keep track of their talking points and to look for opportunities to counter their nonsense. But sometimes, it’s just pure Schadenfreude. Penny Nance of Concerned Women for America wrote an entire op-ed for The Federalist (because of course) just to complain about how preferred pronouns were incorporated into her son’s college orientation.
Just as a quick reminder, sharing your preferred pronouns ensures that trans and non-binary people aren’t singled out and sets everybody up to identify each other respectfully. I think it’s pretty simple, but Nance calls it “Campus insanity.” So I’ll just enjoy watching her squirm over it.
British bus driver suspended over homophobic comments
As a commemoration of Pride, the buses in Norwich, England display the route numbers in rainbow numerals. This was a problem for one bus driver, who explained, "This bus promotes homosexuality and I refuse to drive it." He has since been suspended while the company, Go East Anglia, investigates the incident.
It’s all in The Family
If you haven’t watched it yet, check out the five-part Netflix documentary The Family, which describes the secret Christian (err, Jesus-only?) organization behind the National Prayer Breakfast. The fourth episode in particular speaks to the way the organization has helped to export homophobia to other countries.
Until next time, stay platinum!