WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus denounced the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform’s hearing today on H.R. 2802, which would give a government ‘license to discriminate’ to businesses and non-profits to discriminate against LGBT people. The Committee is holding the hearing one-month to the day after the mass murder of 49 LGBT people and allies at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. The LGBT Caucus issued the following statement in response to the Committee’s announcement:
“This hearing is nothing more than an election-year stunt to rally conservatives at the expense of LGBT Americans,” said Equality Act sponsor and LGBT Equality Caucus Co-Chair Rep. David Cicilline (RI-1). “Let’s be clear – there is no religious basis to deny basic rights and liberties to someone based on their sexual orientation or gender identify. Period.
“In most states, you can get married on Saturday, post photos of your wedding to Facebook on Sunday, and then get fired or kicked out of your apartment on Monday just because you’re gay. FADA exacerbates this injustice by allowing religion to be used as a blanket excuse for denying LGBT people access to employment, housing, mental health care, emergency shelters, and other essential services. This is wrong. Fairness and equality are core American values. And in 2016, no American should ever be made to feel less than equal – especially not by their elected Representatives. On behalf of the LGBT Equality Caucus, I call on all Members of Congress to oppose H.R.2802 and urge Chairman Chaffetz to cancel this hearing immediately.”
