Six GOP presidential hopefuls have signed a pledge stating that, if elected, would push for passage of federal legislation to protect anyone who discriminates against LGBT Americans under the guise of “religious liberty.”
The legislation, known as the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), which would prohibit the federal government from “taking discriminatory action against a person on the basis that such person believes or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that: (1) marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or (2) sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.”
Right Wing Watch reports the measure would give individuals and businesses a license to openly discriminate against gay people and others in the name of “religious liberty.”
According to a statement released by Maggie Gallagher, Senior Fellow at American Principles Project and former chairman of the National Organization for Marriage, the pledge has already been signed by GOP candidates Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Marco Rubio, Rick Santorum, and Ben Carson.
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The American Principles Project has joined together with Heritage Action for America, the action arm of the Heritage Foundation, and FRC Action, the legislative affiliate of the Family Research Council, to advocate for the legislation and lobby candidates for their support.
Gallagher says Jeb Bush, Lindsay Graham, Rand Paul and Donald Trump have all publicly expressed support for FADA but have not yet signed the pledge.
“Real, concrete protections for gay marriage dissenters appear to be just one election victory away,” said Gallagher.
