Nothing “equal” about the Equality Act
Are forcible means necessary to create safety, acceptance and liberty in the US? No, they are not.
The Equality Act poses one of the greatest risks to American Democracy of any bill. Why? Because it establishes a state protected social identity that is defined by ideology—not biology. Unfortunately, Fairness for All—despite its effort to protect religious liberty—does not remedy the harms of legislating gender theory.
For those of us who experience same sex desires but do not wish to “identify” as any of the colorful orientations within the “LGBTQ community” the Equality Act poses a painful conundrum. We could be members of the LGBTQ community (many once were), yet today we have chosen to step away to embrace “heterosexual” norms. We no longer see ourselves as gay or trans, but merely as men and women who have been absorbed into the regular fabric of society.
You see, there is no objective test for the protected population of this bill. It seems that will be based upon self identification with the LGBTQ community—an ideology from which there will now be no dissent. Every mental health option for someone questioning their orientation will now only be directed toward protecting LGBTQ identity. Every religious entity must align its doctrine to accommodate and endorse LGBTQ identity. There will be no freedom of conscience for medical practitioners in the pseudo-scientific “transitioning practices” of transgender or transsexual identifying people, no matter their age.
Bills like the Equality Act demand there be only one route for people like us: identify and go with the community. We will be forced to embrace feelings we do not desire and that do not align with our convictions. An unspoken harm of this bill is its treatment of people who might otherwise identify as LGBTQ except for their chosen religious identity. It demands we desist from our faith backgrounds and forcibly eliminates the spaces of worship where we find refuge and solace. This bill discriminates against all of us who, for various reasons, choose to identify as “male” or “female” not lesbian, gay, bisexual etc. by imposing “LGBTQ” on our safe spaces.
No religion in the United States has this level of enforced protection. No ideological perspective has ever been forcibly applied in America. But the Equality Act will, and that trajectory is already obvious.
Statistics indicate that youth in America are identifying as LGBTQ in droves, bucking a decades old trend that indicates the real population of people with LGBTQ sexual feelings has consistently been less than 3%. According to Rod Dreher, writing in the American Conservative, “roughly 30 percent of American women under 25 identify as LGBT; for women over 60, that figure is less than 5 percent.” “Fifteen point nine percent (15.9%) of Gen-Z (b. 1997-2002) identify as LGBT.” What could be causing this change? Certainly not biology.
Where is this headed? Anyone who has been publicly pressured, harassed or defamed by LGBTQ activists know that this mentality is paving the way for thought control. Our universities and the public media are not allowed to dialogue on matters concerning LGBTQ when they do not align with LGBTQ theories—even when the topic is concern for the well-being of those who so identify.
It is absolutely vital for this nation to take a more balanced approach to the Equality Act. The majority of states today have legislation in place that protect against discrimination for sexual orientation and gender identity. Socially there is already much pressure to create and protect safe spaces for LGBTQ identifying people.
Are forcible means necessary to create safety, acceptance and liberty in the US? No, they are not.
There is already a state of “Equality”:
The LGBTQ ideology is spreading across the world by touching the minds and hearts of westerners who value social justice. Whether in a church or private living room, dialogue is being guided to “cause no harm.” Public awareness is at an all time high.
Big Tech. Through social media outlets, “Community Standards” already enforce anti-discrimination language.
Large Corporations. Already have anti-discrimination hiring practices and community standards. Increasingly, these large corporations wield enough financial authority to influence state laws and practices. They simply won’t plant a corporate office in that state, or create their products in those states. The largest major corporations in th US are members of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce including IBM, Apple, Wells-Fargo, American Airlines, Motorola, Intel, American Express, AARP, AT&T...
States such as California restrict travel for official business to states that do not have anti-discrimination legislation in place.
There is no financial discrimination. In the midst of the LGBTQ community are some of the world’s top wage earners. LGBTQ advocacy organizations are fully funded and supported in every state.
Hollywood and Broadway have fully embraced LGBTQ identifying individuals, influencing how public entertainment represents and values LGBTQ identity.
America’s major media publications (such as WSJ, NYT, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, SF Chronical, PBS) participate in inclusive language guidelines led by LGBTQ advocacy organizations.
Foster care and adoption is legal for LGBTQ-identifying couples in every US state.
The Supreme Court reflects no discrimination in its decisions:
Bostock v. Clayton County prohibited discrimination against gay and transgender employees
Has consistently protected LGBTQ identity and the legality of same-sex sexual activity. (Romer v. Evans, Lawrence v. Texas, US v Windsor)
Obergefell v. Hodges decision ruled same-sex marriage is a fundamental right
Comprehensive Sex Ed, which advocates for LGBTQ inclusion and offers a specialized focus on LGBTQ health and sexual matters, is endorsed Federally and by the United Nations.
The primary targets of the Equality Act and similar legislation across the world are centers of ideological dissent, for example:
Freedom of conscience for medical practitioners is already being compromised through activist engagement and bullying. The Equality Act will require doctors to offer transgender affirming procedures regardless of their moral or medical opinion.
The Equality Act will impact existing abortion laws that have been won by the pro-life lobby. It lays “the groundwork for eliminating prohibitions on taxpayer-funded abortions at the state and federal level; purge existing statutory conscience-protection provisions for pro-life individuals and entities in the context of health care; and nullify hard-fought court battles that upheld religious freedom protections for people and organizations.” Melanie Israel, Heritage Foundation
University level dialogue and research across the world is being preempted. Faculty members have lost jobs, been harassed to extremes, and forced to surrender research topics based upon bias and bullying.
Religious freedom in particular is a target of these bills. “Perhaps HR 5’s most egregious—and intentional—effect will be to eradicate religious conscience as a defense to acts of government coercion that seek to force businesses and religious institutions to comply with the bill’s radical sexual ideology against their conscience. It’s a blatant attempt to drive faith-based entities from the public life of the nation.” - Bruce Hausknecht, The Daily Citizen
“The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 (42 U.S. C. 2000bb et seq.) shall not provide a claim concerning, or a defense to a claim under, a covered title, or provide a basis for challenging the application or enforcement of a covered title.”Hard fought rights that offer protections and opportunities for women will be eliminated by the Equality Act, practically erasing women’s sports through its demands on public accommodations. The Equality Act is the most egregiously misogynistic public legislation to be endorsed by our nation’s leaders in my lifetime. “Under this bill, men and boys will take away women’s small business grants and hard-won spots on sports teams; they will be allowed to live in women’s domestic violence shelters and use our locker rooms. And united as women, we are just not going to stand for it.” - Natasha Chart, of WoLF writing for realclearpolitics.com
CHANGED Movement and other organizations fighting for the religious freedom of men and women seeking alternatives to the LGBTQ narrative will have even fewer safe outlets for self-expression and care. The Equality Act will force only one avenue of care, affirming LGBTQ identity, even when not desired. This extreme measure forces a radical gender ideology on individuals who are questioning their sexuality or gender.
Elizabeth, Excellent article. Lots of good info and insights! What suggestions do you have for contacting our 2 CA senators. What do you think would be the best kind of arguments to use? I’m thinking I’ll call, but I may also send an email. What do you suggest, both or just one or the other?