Written by Don Byrd
The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) does not discriminate against Christians. That is the conclusion of a Politifact report after investigating claims that the bill – which would prohibit secular businesses with 15 or more employees from making personnel decisions based on sexual orientation – “discriminates against Christian daycare, Christian parents, [and] Christian business owners.”
Those false claims are being made by the “Traditional Values Coalition” in a fundraising email suggesting that Senator Mark Pryor’s (D-AR) support of the bill in November somehow contradicts his statements that his Christianity guides him as a legislator.
The Traditional Values Coalition said ENDA discriminates “against Christian daycare, Christian parents, Christian business owners, and the rights of religious freedom.”
The bill’s religious exemption indicates that churches, church-run initiatives and other religious businesses need not comply by employing people of all sexualities and gender identities. And there’s no special negative treatment for Christians. Businesses of any religion could qualify for the exemption. Individuals of any faith who oppose sexuality would have to abide by the law, so no religion is singled out.
We can understand why religious conservatives may take issue with this bill. However, the rhetoric in the email is too broad and overstated, and claims to speak for all Christians.
The bill does apply to secular, for-profit businesses, even if the business owners object on religious grounds. The religious exemptions in the bill are significant, however. They may not please all people of faith, but do reflect a substantial effort to incorporate religious liberty concerns. Whatever your views of the bill, claims that it treats Christian objectors differently than others are just inaccurate.
More to the point from my perspective: people of faith can surely disagree honorably on a bill like this. Suggestions that Christianity requires a particular vote are inappropriate. Is it too much to hope advocates can leave personal religious attacks out of political ads? (Don’t answer that.)
ENDA passed the U.S. Senate, but the House has not taken action.
