No Thanks: Laredo Should Reject Anti-Freedom LGBT Ordinance
Austin, Texas – Texas Values will be testifying at the Laredo City Council tonight against a proposed so-called “anti-discrimination” ordinance which would force private businesses and contractors with the City of Laredo to violate their sincerely held religious beliefs on same-sex “marriage” and gender identity. The proposed ordinance seeks to give special status in law based on sexual orientation and gender identity, something lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocates have pushed for in other cities; but failed in Houston and the Austin LGBT ordinance is currently being challenged in a court case.
This reckless and dangerous ordinance inaccurately relies on a short-lived interpretation of Federal law from the Obama Administration which the current U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has rejected. The current DOJ has concluded that protections against sex discrimination does not apply to claims on sexual orientation and gender identity. The City of Laredo interpretation is currently being disputed in active and unresolved cases; and the definition has been marked invalid by a DOJ memo dated October 4th 2017. Further, the U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled in favor of Colorado cake baker Jack Philips who was punished for his sincerely held religious beliefs under a similar law.
Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values said “This is a bad ordinance that is based on bad law. Passing an ordinance based on bad law gets a bad day in court, just like it did for the opponents of Colorado cake baker Jack Phillips. The City of Laredo is attempting to redefine federal law and punish its citizens because of their sincerely held religious beliefs. This only further underscores the need for action at the Texas Legislature to protect religious liberty.”
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Texas Values is the largest statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.