ACLU Comment on Introduction of “First Amendment Defense Act”

WASHINGTON — Twenty Republican senators introduced the so-called “First Amendment Defense Act” this week, which would allow private companies and not-for-profit government contractors to discriminate against LGBT people and their families, single parents, unmarried couples, and anyone who has sex outside of a heterosexual marriage.

Ian Thompson, legislative representative with the American Civil Liberties Union, had the following response:

“This bill opens the door to a wide range of taxpayer-funded discrimination. It would let private companies and nonprofit government contractors — which includes a significant portion of social services providers — refuse to provide a service or benefit to people because they do not fit their definition of family, from same-sex married couples and their children, a single parent and their child, or an unmarried couple who are living together. Whatever the sponsors of this shameful legislation may say, this is a blatant example of using religion as a justification to discriminate, and the ACLU will fight to make sure it never becomes law.”