House GOP Holds Hearing to Legalize Discrimination on One Month Anniversary of Pulse Massacre

Anti-LGBT bigot, GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz

One thing about today's Republican Party is that it never passes on an opportunity to make it perfectly clear to LGBT Americans that they hate us and will do all in their power to grant special rights to Christofascists to mistreat us under the ruse of "protecting religious liberty."  Their idea of religious loberty, of course only favors Christofascists and all those of other faiths and beliefs are basically told to go to Hell.   Particularly foul are today's hearings before Congressional Republicans on the falsely named "First Amendment Defense Act," a pet project of leading anti-gay hate groups.  Blogger friend Bil Browning looks at this foul exercise in bigotry.  Here are excepts:

One month after the mass shooting in Orlando at a gay nightclub, congressionalRepublicans are holding a committee hearing to discuss legalizing discriminationagainst LGBT people. Despite repeated calls from fellow lawmakers, activists, and civil rights organizations, chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) refused to cancel or postpone the hearing.

The hearing will focus on the so-called “First Amendment Defense Act” which would allow businesses and individuals to discriminate against LGBT people if they cite their religious beliefs. Conservative Christian organizations and activists have been clamboring for special exemptions from civil rights laws since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.

“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 identity. Period.”

“The Orlando tragedy on June 12 was a time of heartbreak for millions around the world and the worst attack on the LGBT community in our nation’s history,” said Obergefell. “Today, exactly one month after this horrifying event, this hearing is deeply hurtful to a still-grieving LGBT community.

Jim Obergefell, lead plaintiff in the 2015 same sex marriage ruling will testify.  His pre-written testimony can be found here at the ACLU website.