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Queer Nation blasts HRC for ‘hypocrisy’ on LGBT workplace protections

Queer Nation blasts HRC for ‘hypocrisy’ on LGBT workplace protections

NEW YORK — The gay rights activist group Queer Nation this week blasted the the Human Rights Campaign, the national’s largest LGBT lobbying group, for condemning Vatican hiring policies while it lobbies for passage of a workplace discrimination bill that includes religious protections.

HRC-flag“At the same time it is criticizing Roman Catholic schools for their anti-LGBT discrimination, the Human Rights Campaign is lobbying in Congress for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) that has a religious exemption that would allow that discrimination under federal law,” said Queer Nation, in a statement.

“All discrimination is immoral and HRC is right to object to what these schools are doing,” said Ken Kidd, a member of Queer Nation.

“So why is HRC spending millions in Congress to promote ENDA when that legislation has a religious exemption that will let Roman Catholic schools and other religiously-affiliated institutions fire LGBT people and perhaps even pro-LGBT people?”

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Earlier this week, the HRC delivered a letter to the Vatican on behalf of nine teachers who have lost their jobs at Catholics schools for either being LGBT, or supporting an LGBT family member.

The letter requests “a Papal audience with our families, so that you may hear our personal stories firsthand and see the impact the Church’s actions have had on us all.”

“HRC can’t have it both ways,” Kidd said. “It can’t criticize Roman Catholic schools for discriminating against LGBT Americans and then seek to make that discrimination legal under federal law. ENDA is a lousy bill and it should be scrapped. What the LGBT community needs is comprehensive federal civil rights legislation.”

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