Republicans will try again to reintroduce an anti-LGBT ‘religious freedom’ law
Republicans look set to pass a federal ‘religious freedom’ bill, which would protect people and organisations opposed to same-sex marriage.
Senator Mike Lee of Utah plans to reintroduce a bill which would protect those with a “deeply held religious belief”, which means they are opposed to same-sex marriage.
A spokesman for Lee’s office told BuzzFeed news: “Hopefully November’s results will give us the momentum we need to get this done next year.”
The senator hopes that, with the support of President-elect Trump, the First Amendments Defense Act will be successful.
During his campaign, Trump said he would sign the Act, saying it would “protect the deeply held religious beliefs of Catholics and the beliefs of Americans of all faiths.”
Lee’s spokesman added that the senator does “plan to reintroduce FADA next Congress and we welcome Trump’s positive words about the bill.”
Despite that the bill was introduced last year and was unsuccessful, it is feared that it will be able to pass in the House and Senate in 2017, and Lee’s spokesman said he thinks the bill will “absolutely” get a Senate hearing.
“We made great progress last Congress, the first Congress it was introduced, the House had hearing, and we have every reason to believe the momentum will continue next year,” he adds.
Senator Ted Cruz adds: “Any effort to protect religious liberty has brighter prospects with a new Congress and new administration.”
FADA would ban the government from punishing people and organisations who act on a “religious belief or moral conviction”.
It also goes further to protect people who think “that sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.”
