Family advocate says ENDA vote shows 'arrogance'

OneNewsNow.com ^ | November 8, 2007 | Jim Brown

[fweingart]

A Washington-based pro-family group says the Democrat-led House has cast aside the free-exercise clause of the First Amendment with its passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) (HR 3685).

On Wednesday the House voted 235-184 (see roll call vote) in favor of legislation that would prohibit employment discrimination based on "actual or perceived" sexual orientation. Due to a lack of support, openly homosexual Representative Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) withdrew an amendment that would have extended special protections to trans-gendered people and cross-dressers.

Matt Barber, policy director for cultural issues at Concerned Women for America (CWA), argues the bill threatens the religious freedom of Christian employees and employers who believe homosexuality is immoral.

"By passing this really Orwellian piece of legislation, the Democrat-led house has displayed exceptional arrogance here. They apparently believe they have carte blanche authority to essentially nullify any constitutional provision which they find bothersome -- and in this case that would be the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which they've essential drawn a black line through," he says.

Barber says that through lobbying efforts his group was able to pull some Democrats and Republicans to their side. He says CWA has been trying to educate members of Congress about the threat the legislation poses to religious freedom. The fight over ENDA now shifts to the Senate, where Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts) is expected to introduce the measure.

[fweingart]

Prescribing that they be Exiled is quite another.

But, but it's for their own good. Whenever the government of political correctness topples (and believe me, it will) they could be tarred, feathered or....worse!

[napscoordinator]

I don’t even believe that gays have been fired for being gay in the work place. I have never heard of such a case. Most companies are gay friendly as it is. The military is a totally different situation. I really don’t believe that gays have it so bad that this legislation is needed. If they all were seriously locked out of employment than maybe but that is not the case.