The Equality Act - Legitimizing Immorality
Bill Donahue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, called House Bill 5, otherwise known as The Equality Bill, “the most comprehensive assault on Christianity ever written into law.” 1
He is not alone in that sentiment. All Bible-believing Christians must make themselves aware of HB5 and the effect it will have on society in general, and the Church specifically. We must pray! But we must also contact our Senators now to let them know they must not pass this bill into law. I hope you will gain a full understanding of why as we discuss it here.
We are partnering today with Intercessors for America and FRCAction to bring you in-depth information on HB5 — voted on yesterday by the House. They had not yet voted by the time I had to record this, but the assumption has been that the House would pass it. The Senate will now take it up. Both of these organizations have been tracking this bill from its introduction and understand it well.
Intercessors for America helps us understand the bill from a point of definition:
HB5 is not really about “equality.” It is all about SOGI. What is “SOGI”? It stands for sexual orientation/gender identity. A well-funded, powerful movement is legalizing intimidation by attaching gender identity language to legislation and action of all kinds—even those that should have nothing to do with this concept. Pushing to make sexual orientation/gender identity an issue in much of our civic lives, and in the end, a protected class of citizens. It has become nationally championed. In the previous Congress, HB5 passed in the House but was not taken up by the Senate. Things have changed, however. HB5 has been reintroduced in the House, and with the shift of power in the Senate, it has a very real possibility of passing.
SOGI language has been inserted in treaties, commerce regulations, education standards, housing acts, local laws, and ordinances. It is a strategy. SOGI language supports and validates LGBTQ lifestyles, and forces the overwhelming majority of the nation to treat this as a preferred and protected class. By creating this “protected class” they are also elevating SOGI beyond equal treatment to a civil right. Special protections for LGBTQ will trump the rights of other people. This means that Christian daycares or schools may be forced to hire LGBTQ employees. What Jack Philips endured as a cake baker would become the norm and have a different result if these SOGI language clauses are adopted. Parents may not be able to decline hormone treatments for gender-confused children. SOGI clauses are legislating to the exception and restricting constitutional freedoms in order to achieve a pro-LGBTQ society.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that there shall be no discrimination of a person based on their “race, color, national origin, sex, and religion.“ The first four of these are included largely because they are intrinsic to the individual, are bestowed involuntarily, and are unchangeable, immutable. (Religion is voluntary, and is protected by the First Amendment.) As Peter Sprigg of Family Research Council points out, “while sexual attractions may be involuntary, neither homosexual conduct nor transgender behavior meets any of the other criteria.” To elevate someone’s “felt” and potentially changing gender to the status of a civil right is incongruent—it doesn’t qualify and it is a dangerous slippery slope. Ryan T. Anderson of the Heritage Foundation makes a good point. “In the United States of America, people who identify as LGBT are free to live as they want. But SOGI laws, including FFA [Freedom for All], are not about freedom— they are about coercion. SOGI and FFA are about forcing all Americans to embrace—and live out—certain beliefs about human sexuality.” It is forcing all Americans to live under their beliefs, their choices and their reality.
You can read more from Intercessors for America on this topic, download a special report, and share a message with your elected officials by clicking here. There is a chart on the Special Report showing the 24 states which have already passed some form of SOGI laws. This is another battle that may be waged at the state level.
FRCAction gives us “an overview of some of the problems with the Equality Act”:
The Equality Act jeopardizes women’s privacy and safety.
The Equality Act’s expansion of the Title II “Public Accommodations” definition means that females would no longer have privacy in public bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, or even battered women’s shelters. State and local laws to this effect are already causing fallout: A kindergartener was assaulted by a boy in her school bathroom. A rape survivor was forced to quit her job when her employer began allowing men into women’s private facilities. A man was allowed residence in a women’s shelter, and nine women are suing because they were sexually harassed.
The Equality Act unfairly penalizes female athletes by allowing biological men to compete in women’s sports.
The Equality Act would undermine real civil rights gains women have made.
The Equality Act would interfere with the medical profession.
It would force doctors and others who provide legitimate hormone treatments and surgical procedures for patients with certain physical conditions to offer those treatments for individuals with gender dysphoria. Their moral or medical opinions about assisting individuals in physically altering their bodies would be disregarded.
The Equality Act could erode parental rights.
When Ohio parents declined hormone treatment for their child, the Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati involved child protective services, and the parents were ultimately stripped of their parental rights.
The Equality Act would severely erode religious freedom.
The Equality Act expressly exempts itself from the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), our flagship religious liberty law.
The Equality Act’s expansion of public accommodations could require churches and houses of worship to violate their beliefs regarding how they use their facilities.
Its changes to employment law would prohibit some houses of worship from ensuring their clergy and employees abide by their doctrines or beliefs about marriage, sexual behavior, and the distinction between the sexes.
The Equality Act would inhibit faith-based charities’ ability to operate.
The Equality Act could be the most pro-abortion legislation to pass the House in a decade.
The changes would essentially create an abortion mandate...this also jeopardizes long-standing federal conscience laws that protect those opposed to abortion. The Hyde Amendment, which prohibits taxpayer funding for abortion, would also be in jeopardy.
The Equality Act shamefully attempts to usurp the civil rights movement’s history and legacy.
In no way are one’s sexual conduct and inclinations equivalent to skin color. Suggesting or implying as much diminishes the hard-fought gains of this movement. Indeed, scientific evidence shows that “sexual orientation” is quite fluid and that “gender identity” is not fixed.
The Equality Act mandates an anti-life, anti-family, and anti-faith agenda upon all Americans.
You can read FRC Action’s entire article and contact your U.S. Representative by clicking here.
God knew what He was doing when He created us male and female. We should never mistreat anyone else, including those with whom we disagree on moral issues. Nevertheless, we cannot stand silently by and continue allowing immorality to become the law of the land. We must let our voices be heard, and we must pray.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 NLT)
Pray with me:
Father, we come to Your throne of grace to obtain mercy. We want to do justice while also loving mercy. You take no pleasure in judgment, nor do we. You love to extend mercy, new and fresh every morning. When people repent, You quickly embrace them. You love it when nations turn away from their sinful ways. You pour out Your mercy and salvation upon them.
We are in need of that mercy now, Lord. America is on the precipice of institutionalizing great sin. Lord, liberals see an opportunity to advance an agenda through HB5 that will have sweeping repercussions for this nation. It will turn hearts away from You. It will bring persecution to Your church.
Send Your Spirit of revelation to us. Move on those in the church to pray and act, to quickly let their Senators know we do not want HB5 passed into law. Break off all fear of what our congressional leaders will think of us. Give us revelation of what this will mean to future generations of Americans, what it will mean regarding preserving this nation in Your will and destiny. Touch the hearts of Senators, we pray. Awaken their consciences. Let “the fear of the Lord” - fear of You - come upon our lawmakers. Grant America mercy, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Today’s decree:
We decree that God is coming to America with His saving grace!
1 Catholic League Calls Equality Act ‘Most Comprehensive Assault on Christianity Ever Written Into Law’. 2/23/21:https://www.theepochtimes.com/catholic-league-calls-equality-act-most-comprehensive-assault-on-christianity-ever-written-into-law_3707656.html?utm_source=pushengage
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