The U.S House of Representatives is expected to vote Wednesday on H.R. 3685, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), after postponing a vote on the bill several times.
If passed, the bill would add “sexual orientation” to a list of federally protected classes under a 1964 act that prohibits job discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
Although churches and the military would be exempt, conservatives argue that the legislation would require Christian organizations and pro-family groups who teach about the sin of homosexuality to hire gays, thereby violating their constitutional rights.
“ENDA would take away Christians' and others' right to stand up for Biblical morality," said Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans For Truth, in a statement Tuesday.
Meanwhile, some gay rights groups have refused to back the most recent version of the bill due to the removal of an amendment that would include transgender workers.
However, a leading gay rights organization, The Human Rights Campaign, changed course Tuesday and decided to back the measure without the amendment to boost to bill supporters as a House vote nears.
The organization’s president, Joe Solmonese, said the passage of the bill might pave the way for legislation that covers transgender workers.
"Sometimes with these sorts of complex and weighty legislative fights, the best way to move towards the ultimate piece of legislation you are looking for is to do it by degree," said the Solmonese.
On Wednesday, the House is expected to debate on but not actually vote on the transgender issue.
One conservative legal group was taken back by the sudden announcement of the bill’s scheduled vote.
Liberty Counsel on Tuesday accused the House of trying to “sneak” in the legislation. In an alert posted on the group’s website, the Fla.-based group urged its supporters to contact their representatives and key House leaders by phone or fax and ask them to oppose the bill.
“ENDA is a serious threat to Christians, business owners and non-profit groups,” wrote Liberty Counsel. “It will lead to the criminalization of our beliefs.”
The White House indicated last month that President George W. Bush would veto ENDA if it makes it to his desk. The administration calls the bill “inconsistent” with the right to free exercise of religion.
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I have only one rule when it comes to ANY discrimination....â
I think this bill should be passed! To me it is no different than when there was black & white segregation! Medical Science has evolved, people's mental attitudes should as well. Our grandparents etc taught that transgender was evil. They didn't have the medical science or understanding we have today! Just in case you all are right though, I will live my life as a man and pray that if I can't be a complete female in heaven that opposed to heaven or hell God simply destroys me!
Have a nice day!
Katie Marie
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (New King James Version)
9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
Footnotes:
a. 1 Corinthians 6:9 That is, catamites
Everybody is running crazy about this issue,....I actually read in the newspaper this morning that the House is forwarding the bill to the Oval Office and George Bush is pretty sure to 'VETO'
the whole thing,...this is what I`m saying,...you don`t think Washington ,..ESPECIALLY Washington does`nt have way more important things to worry about?
thanks for the info on that website. that article that you mentioned was great! I also heard about that situation in California on Jay Sekulow Live on my local radio station. Im not sure if you've heard him, but he resides in D.C. and is very involved in religious/legal situations around the country. Lately, he's been working hard up in Maine with the birth control for 11 year olds in the public schools situation.
Im gonna bookmark that website so i can visit it more often. Im even gonna put a link on my webpage for it
Also,...not meaning to sound to seem like anything more than a "Glib" opinion-ist on the Christian Post website,...I`ve been following "Trumpet.com" that also publishes "Tommorows World" which used to be the "Plain Truth" monthly periodical in years past..... and they just published an article on Nov. 7th titling The "Alarming push for transgender rights" and was a very to the point well researched article (personal opinion) and that is EXACTLY why I`ve been following them forever,...over 25 yrs on and off.......
Oh,...ok Prophet,.......AMEN................
da- isnt that so true? it's sickening how far we have "progressed" over the past couple decades. and the immorality will continue to increase at an even faster pace as the end times draws closer.
soldier--but always remember that our fight is a spiritual one. we will be most effective on our knees. that doesnt mean that we shouldn't let our voices be heard or try to advance the cause physically. but if we fight the battle spiritually first, our physical attempts will be more fruitful.
I have to tell you Josh that you will have to fight as a christian business owner. Fight and Stand for Jesus Christ on the Word of God. That will be your solid foundation and there is no worries necessary. Remember Phillipians 4:6-8 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
We are in the last days and our faith will be tested. We must stand for our rights as God's children, just like others stand for their rights to oppose our beliefs. Keep strong in the faith everyone. We have the final victory in Jesus Christ and the eternal knowledge of heaven and eternity with our Heavenly Father. Take care.
This is the last thing I`m gonna say about this,...I don`t even know why I`m saying this much on such a subject,...Is the fact that people out there that actually have enough decentcy to "Debate" this issue to start out with..where I think that anyone over the age of 35 that read these articles would agree that 25 or 30 yrs ago this would have gone no further than a private joke at the water cooler.....
Amen..........
Amen!
Peter 4
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us[a] in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime[b] in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.