June 18, 2025 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

Christian conservatives insist on ‘religious liberties’ through executive order

Ahead of the announcement of his Supreme Court pick and just days before the National Prayer Breakfast that Trump will attend in Minnesota on Thursday, prominent conservative leaders are increasingly certain Donald Trump will uphold “religious liberty” by imposing an executive order to ensure their ability to opt out of any LGBTQ workplace discrimination protections.

The Religious Freedom bill, now called the First Amendment Defense Act, is something Candidate Trump promised to his Christian conservative supporters. Congress is expected to pass the First Amendment Defense Act, or FADA, this congressional term. Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, have stated they plan to reintroduce the bill this year. It was originally introduced in 2015 but failed after critics pointed out its potential to codify discrimination against LGBTQ people and others.

Just yesterday, Trump let stand an existing Executive Order from President Obama that protects LGBTQ federal workers and employees of contractors who do business with the government.  FADA is seen as an end-run to that Executive Order.

Pesident of the Family Research Council Tony Perkins speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 21. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Pesident of the Family Research Council Tony Perkins speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on July 21. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

Tony Perkins was quoted by CNBC:  “I think this is going to be addressed,” said the president of the Family Research Council.

Christian Conservatives feel they need the bill because religiously oriented workplaces, they insist, should be allowed to consider a person’s sexual orientation when doing business.

Neil Gorsuch, Trump’s choice to fill the Supreme Court seat of Justice Antonin Scalia is a proponent of the aims of the bill and supported the notorious Hobby Lobby case that propelled the discussion nationally.

Many in Washington had expected an an executive order concerning gay rights would be part the White House’s earliest actions.  “The executive order signed in 2014, which protects employees from anti-LGBTQ workplace discrimination while working for federal contractors, will remain intact at the direction of President Donald J. Trump,” a White House statement said.

Conservatives feel that statement does not preclude a supplemental executive order exempting religious organizations from, as Perkins put it, “having to change their views on human sexuality and marriage” while holding contracts with the federal government.

Perkins told CNBC that while he hasn’t “gotten complete clarity,” he said, “I have every confidence” that Trump will be guided by Republican Rep. Steve Russell of Oklahoma to exempt “any religious corporation, religious association, religious education institution or religious society” with a federal contract from the pro-LGBT Executive Order.

LGBT rights leaders also expect the same.

Winnie Stachelberg of the liberal Center for American Progress said she continues to anticipate an executive order mirroring Russell’s proposal, which she said could grant some taxpayer-funded adoption agencies the right to refuse placing children with same-sex couples. “This would be a severe blow to the LGBT community,” Ms. Stachelberg said. “A license to discriminate … and a step backward.”

Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign, is certain the administration “is still considering an (executive order) that would discriminate against LGBTQ people.” He said in a statement that preserving Obama’s 2014 executive order was “a rather low bar,” placing focus instead on the “LGBTQ refugees, immigrants, Muslims, and women [who] are scared today.”

Ditto the National Center for Transgender Equality, whose president Mara Keisling said in a statement that Trump “is certainly not an ally to transgender refugees, transgender Muslims, or transgender people who depend on the Affordable Care Act or Planned Parenthood.”

ACLU LGBT project director James Esseks also drew attention to the LGBT immigrants and refugees affected by President Trump’s travel ban.

And in reference to Trump’s supposed support for LGBT rights, Esseks repeated the axiom: “Actions speak louder than words”

in NEWS
Related Posts

Justice Served by the Slice: L.A. Chefs Rally for Pies for Justice Fundraiser

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

Sweet, Savory, and Pizza Pies to Support Foster Youth and Civil Rights Chefs and restaurants from across Los Angeles and...

Downtown Santa Monica Goes All Out for Family-Friendly Pride Celebration

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

SaMo Pride’s Biggest Celebration: Live Music, LGBTQ+ Vendors, Giveaways Downtown Santa Monica will come alive with color, music, and celebration...

Trump Executive Order Lets VA Doctors Deny Care to Trans Patients or Marital Status

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

New VA Policy Tied to Anti-Trans Order May Allow Refusals of Treatment Medical professionals across the Department of Veterans Affairs...

Journalist Files Lawsuit After Being Hit by ‘Less Lethal’ Munition Fired by Sheriff’s Deputies

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

LASD Faces Legal Claim After Journalist Wounded at Anti-Ice Rally  Independent photojournalist Nick Stern has filed a civil rights claim...

CAP UCLA’s 2025–26 Season Spotlights Queer Voices, Global Visionaries, and Musical Trailblazers

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

The New Lineup Celebrates Boundary-Pushing Performances Across Disciplines The UCLA Center for the Art of Performance (CAP UCLA) has announced...

Cedars-Sinai Seeks Public’s Help Identifying Unconscious Man Found in Beverly Grove

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Man Remains Hospitalized After Being Discovered Near Cedars Sinai Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying...

US Marines Temporarily Detain Civilian Near Federal Building in West Los Angeles

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Military Confirms First Known Detention by Active-Duty Troops Deployed by Trump U.S. Marines temporarily detained a civilian near the Wilshire...

Judge Orders NIH to Reinstate LGBTQ+ Health Research Grants Cut Under Trump Policies

June 17, 2025

June 17, 2025

Federal Court Finds Dei-Related Grant Cancellations Unlawful; Ruling Restores Funding Funding for hundreds of medical research projects, including critical studies...

GLAAD and eBay Launch Celebrity Auction for Pride Month, Up for Bid Through June 26

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Exclusive experiences with Shakira, Orville Peck, Andy Cohen, Dylan Efron, and More  GLAAD and eBay have joined forces to launch...

Tyler Malek Celebrates New Ice Cream Cookbook With Sweet Pop-Ups in West Hollywood

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

Chef to Appear at Book Soup and Debut Limited-Edition Matcha Sandwich at GGiata Tyler Malek, co-founder and head chef of...

(Video) Home Front Build Maintains Original Architectural Vision For Modern Homes

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

For More Information, Go to homefrontbuild.com For More Information, Go to https://t.co/kip9luQwxX pic.twitter.com/sTuVgfiGkj — Palisades News (@PalisadesNewsLA) June 16, 2025

Nearly One Thousand Rally in West Hollywood to Protest ICE Raids and Trump Policies

June 16, 2025

June 16, 2025

‘No Kings’ Demonstration Draws Large, Peaceful Crowd Through the Rainbow District West Hollywood was the site of another ‘No Kings”...

Tribeca Premiere Honors Carl Bean, Musician, Activist and LGBTQ+ Faith Leader

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

New Doc Features Interviews With Lady Gaga, Billy Porter, and Dionne Warwick The life and legacy of Archbishop Carl Bean,...

Americans Split on Immigration and Tariffs’ Impact on Housing Affordability, Survey Shows

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

Survey Finds Over Half Believe Less Immigration Could Drive Up Home Prices  A new Redfin-commissioned survey reveals that U.S. homeowners...

Two Suspects Arrested in Fatal Stabbing of Elderly Man in Hancock Park

June 15, 2025

June 15, 2025

LAPD and FBI Apprehend Palmdale Pair Accused of Killing 84-Year-Old LAPD West Bureau Homicide has arrested two suspects in connection...