Pride at Work Reacts to Leaked Religious Exemptions Executive Order Draft

For Immediate Release

February 2, 2017

Contact: Jerame Davis – jdavis@prideatwork.org

Pride at Work Reacts to Leaked Religious Exemptions Executive Order Draft

Washington – Last night, a draft leaked of a potential executive order that would extend broad religious exemptions that amount to a license to discriminate against LGBTQ people. Pride at Work executive director, Jerame Davis, issued the following statement in response to the potential of such an order:

“If enacted, this order could have devastating consequences for LGBTQ Americans, particularly our working brothers and sisters in the federal government. It is chilling that any administration would suggest such an expansive policy designed to curtail rights and protections, some of which have been in place for more than half a century.

“We will not stand by while this Administration destroys lives and takes away our rights to satisfy a narrow view of religion. Freedom of religion is a fundamental bedrock of our nation’s values. The First Amendment to the Constitution protects our right to believe and worship freely. This freedom is foundational, but it is not above all others.

“Our right to practice our religion freely does not allow us to impose that belief on others, to cause harm, to discriminate. It is designed to protect everyone’s rights, not the rights of a few.

“If this shameful executive order – or any order that is substantially similar – sees the light of day, we will fight it with every tool at our disposal.”

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Pride At Work organizes mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ Community for social and economic justice. We seek full equality for LGBTQ Workers in our workplaces and unions and we organize in the spirit of the union movement’s historic motto, “An Injury to One is An Injury to All.” Learn more at www.prideatwork.org