The Equality Act is an Anti-RFRA Bill

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, November 20, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

While people of faith expect religious freedom to continue in all walks of life, a Democrat congressman from Rhode Island introduced H.R. 3185 on July 23rd and named it “The Equality Act.” He didn’t define it as an anti-religious freedom restoration act, but that’s what it is. He also didn’t explain it would codify and legitimize moral behavior that has been illegal from the beginning of time, but it will. Nor did he explain that everyone would be forced to accept the false notion that sexual identity is a mind-set that is not determined biologically, while sexual activity is a choice.

The day after H.R. 3185 was introduced, Andrew T. Walker, Director of Policy Studies for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, published a thorough analysis of its drastic effects on culture.

It would erode religious liberty; it would transform public opinion on sexuality; and it would harm the public perception of anyone who believes in traditional or biblical sexual morality. In fact, the Equality Act is much more harmful than the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which Congress refused to pass.H.R. 3185 would elevate sexual orientation and gender identity to civil rights status alongside race, color, religion and national origin as categories for special protection and affirmative action. The practical application of that would be to categorize as bigots those who object to awarding special civil rights for conduct the majority of people believe is immoral and, traditionally, illegal.

Mr. Walker went on to explain, “The 1964 Civil Rights Act rightfully corrected … a systematic discrimination based on skin color. It did so for good reason: the color of a person’s skin has no relation to his or her moral action, while sexual orientation and gender identity do. Unlike race, sexual orientation and gender identity are known through conduct, which can and should be ethically evaluated. …Protected classes such as race are immutable and involuntary, while sexual orientation and gender identity are not always fixed.”

It’s been three months since H.R. 3185 was introduced, and on September 8th it was assigned to Representative Trent Franks’ Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee. Call 1 877 762-8762, ask for his office and ask him to keep H.R. 3185 in his committee. For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.