In the wake of the Obergefell ruling, conservatives in Congress have whipped up a lovely little bill called the "First Amendment Defense Act" (https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr2802). Under the banner of religious liberty, it basically provides a "Get Out of Jail Free" card for any "person" — including non-profit and for-profit companies — who breaks any labor law or regulation if they are acting based on a belief in "traditional marriage". More specifically.
'Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Federal Government shall not take any discriminatory action against a person, wholly or partially on the basis that such person believes or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.'
Want to fire that guy in Accounting because he had the nerve to (legally) marry another guy last weekend? Have at it. Want to dump that gal on the assembly line because she's (legally) pregnant but doesn't have a ring on her finger? No problem. Just be morally outraged, thump your Bible a few times, and you're covered under FADA.
An even better irony is that the bill is being touted as promoting "tolerance" (see http://dailysignal.com/2015/07/16/want-religious-freedom-then-lets-pass-the-first-amendment-defense-act/ as an example). Its preamble even notes, "Laws that protect the free exercise of religious beliefs and moral convictions about marriage will encourage private citizens and institutions to demonstrate tolerance for those beliefs and convictions and therefore contribute to a more respectful, diverse, and peaceful society."
I.e., if you let us discriminate based on our religious beliefs, then everyone will have to tolerate us. Even if we don't have to tolerate people who do naughty things in our eyes.
It seems unlikely this bill will actually pass (or even get out of committee), but it's engendering a ton of press in the right-wing circuit, as well as calls for donations to ostensibly lobby for its passage, all under the martyrdom banner of "religious freedom." Does anyone else see the irony of a "religious freedom" law that doesn't protect religious freedom in general, but two specific religious dogma in particular? What about my religious belief in transubstantiation? Shouldn't I be able to fire one of those dirty Baptists who denies the presence of the Lord in the consecrated bread and wine without fearing government retaliation? Why not? Why is my particular religious belief less worthy of protection from the evils of the Obamanation than these? Why won't you tolerate my beliefs?!
So it goes.
Bill That Lets Bosses Fire Single Women For Getting Pregnant Gains Steam
