Log Cabin Republicans: LGBT rights groups ‘ignorant of political reality’ for dropping ENDA support
The Log Cabin Republicans group has claimed that the multitude of LGBT rights groups who have dropped their support for the ENDA are “ignorant” of political reality.
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act – which would ban homophobic discrimination in the workplace – has been stalled by Republicans in the US House of Representatives since last year.
However, following a series of compromises which strengthen religious freedom exemptions, last week the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the American Civil Liberties Union both announced their withdrawal of support for the measure.
They joined the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Transgender Law Center, FreedomOhio, Equality New Mexico, Wyoming Equality and the Transgender Education Network of Texas, who all dropped support of the bill in June, saying it would give religious people a ‘license to discriminate’.
Gregory T. Angelo, president of the pro-gay Log Cabin Republicans group, told Metro Weekly: “Nothing has changed at Log Cabin Republicans regarding our calculus. We continue to support ENDA as it is now, as we always have.
“A lot of these organizations on the left withdrawing their support are ignorant of the political reality in Washington that led to bi-partisan support of ENDA in the Senate in the first place.
“It’s puzzling, really — it’s like we scored the touchdown with the Senate passage of ENDA, and right as we’re about to kick the field goal in the House the left decides to move the goal posts.
“Histrionics about the Hobby Lobby decision didn’t help, and a misinformation campaign about the religious exemption in ENDA hasn’t either.
“ENDA isn’t perfect, but no one ever said it was the end-game, and in politics you can#t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
“This bill is going to pass sooner or later, and Republicans who care about religious liberty and equality would do well to prioritize its passage in this congress.”
The Human Rights Campaign also continues to support ENDA despite the concerns.
