Trump Is Reportedly Drafting An Executive Order Allowing For Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination
Update: Multiple sources say the order will allow for discrimination in employment, social services, business, adoption, and more on the grounds of “religious freedom.” The White House looks to be playing down the reports.
Donald Trump is drafting an executive order allowing for anti-LGBTQ discrimination in multiple areas, including employment, social services, business, and adoption, multiple sources told LGBTQ Nation and Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin. The order will reportedly open up these discriminatory practices based on "religious belief" and is expected to be introduced at some point this week.
The executive order may include making taxpayer funding available for discrimination in social services, authorizing federally funded adoption agencies to discriminate against LGBTQ parents, permitting the firing of federal employees and contractors because of their sexual orientation or gender identity by eliminating non-discrimination protections, and allowing federal employees to refuse to serve people based on their sexual orientation.
During a press conference on Monday, Sean Spicer refused to answer a question about an upcoming executive order that would allow for such discrimination based on religious freedom.
Donald Trump has been open about his support for the First Amendment Defense Act, which would give businesses and individuals the ability to discriminate against LGBTQ people and deny the federal government the ability to prosecute this discrimination. In 2015, while he was governor of Indiana, Mike Pence approved the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. He later signed an executive order, removing language in the bill that explicitly allowed for discrimination against the LGBTQ community.