Leaked Draft of Trump's Religious Freedom Order Reveals Sweeping Plans to Legalize Discrimination

 By Sarah Posner
2/1/2017

https://www.thenation.com/article/leaked-draft-of-trumps-religious-freedom-order-reveals-sweeping-plans-to-legalize-discrimination/

A leaked copy of a draft executive order titled "Establishing a Government-Wide Initiative to Respect Religious Freedom," obtained by The Investigative Fund and The Nation, reveals sweeping plans by the Trump administration to legalize discrimination.

The four-page draft order, a copy of which is currently circulating among federal staff and advocacy organizations, construes religious organizations so broadly that it covers "any organization, including closely held for-profit corporations," and protects "religious freedom" in every walk of life: "when providing social services, education, or healthcare; earning a living, seeking a job, or employing others; receiving government grants or contracts; or otherwise participating in the marketplace, the public square, or interfacing with Federal, State or local governments."

The draft order seeks to create wholesale exemptions for people and organizations who claim religious or moral objections to same-sex marriage, premarital sex, abortion, and trans identity

From the leaked order, section 4e:

Quote The Department of the Treasury shall not ... deny tax exempt status ...  to any person, church, synagogue, house of worship or other religious organization ...  on the basis that such person or organization believes, speaks, or acts... in accordance with the belief that ... male and female and their equivalents refer to an individual's immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy, physiology, or genetics at or before birth

They're coming for us.

The scary part is the Supreme Court will back them up. What incredible ignorance and meanness behind this.

*sighs*

Great. That's just great.

From there, it's only a matter of time before name/gender marker changes are rendered null & void. If that happens, I'm out.

 

Let's be very careful about the validity of leaked posts.

I fully understand that the USA, and the world is in turmoil with the new Administration but it seems that, as ever, the truth behind where commentary and leaks come from is hard to find.

We need to be cautious on reports of alarmist happenings.

Cindy

Quote from: Cindy on February 03, 2017, 03:29:39 AM


Let's be very careful about the validity of leaked posts.

I fully understand that the USA, and the world is in turmoil with the new Administration but it seems that, as ever, the truth behind where commentary and leaks come from is hard to find.

We need to be cautious on reports of alarmist happenings.

Cindy

Hi Cindy,

Unfortunately every day the world gets new documented demonstrations of how reactionary this government is.  With all the anti-LGBT people in the Trump inner circle, who are on record saying very hateful things, we should definitely have our radar on full.   It's just a matter of time.  It's coming.

Take care,
Paige

Quote from: HappyMoni on February 02, 2017, 09:20:18 PM
The scary part is the Supreme Court will back them up. What incredible ignorance and meanness behind this.

I tend to disagree, despite whomever is the next addition to the court.  I think this will be clearly found to be unconstitutional by the SCOTUS, and not because of ideology, but because of constitutional breaches.  I would classify this 'leaked draft' as a pipe dream for the far right.  But, I am not a legal scholar, so I will add that disclaimer.

The judicial branch will have to exact its authority over the executive branch, in my humble opinion.

Quote from: Laura_Squirrel on February 03, 2017, 01:03:46 AMFrom there, it's only a matter of time before name/gender marker changes are rendered null & void. If that happens, I'm out.

I don't think a name change could be voided unless you want to open up some other cans of worms that would be felt well beyond the transgender community (e.g. if a name is "officially gendered" then it could dictate what parents can and cannot name their children, and the courts have ruled that absent fraudulent intent one should have control over their name). Gender markers are different though because the same constitutional protection has not been extended to being able to self-identify one's gender.

Right now he is saying that he has no intention of signing that.  However, as we have been seeing the past couple of weeks, truth is a variable subject to change by the hour.  So this bears watching but it's not time to launch red star clusters yet.


It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.
André Gide, Autumn Leaves

Donald Trump is from New York, "The city that would grind to a halt without LGBTIQ people"    I wouldn't put much stock in any reports of him coming down on our community.

Hugs, Devlyn

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on February 03, 2017, 10:26:40 AM
Donald Trump is from New York, "The city that would grind to a halt without LGBTIQ people"    I wouldn't put much stock in any reports of him coming down on our community.

Hugs, Devlyn

Fabulous point!

Quote from: ainsley on February 03, 2017, 08:29:41 AM
I tend to disagree, despite whomever is the next addition to the court.  I think this will be clearly found to be unconstitutional by the SCOTUS, and not because of ideology, but because of constitutional breaches.  I would classify this 'leaked draft' as a pipe dream for the far right.  But, I am not a legal scholar, so I will add that disclaimer.

The judicial branch will have to exact its authority over the executive branch, in my humble opinion.

I wish I could be as optimistic as you. When corporations are made  to have rights like they are people, I fear that, for some, agenda becomes more important than what is constitutional. I agree that we shouldn't freak out until something is actually announced. Let's not lose sleep for erroneous reports or distortions.
Monica
Please note this is my opinion, I am not looking to stir up anything like a political disagreement with anyone here.

By allowing ourselves to be spooked by scare tactics we are playing into the hands of those who manipulate through fear.

Any and all anti-LGBT changes intended will be bridges THEY have to cross before any sweeping anything can be passed, then enacted, then enforced..

I am not saying there are not those that would turn back the clocks, but what I am saying is that we best not waste a single breath in fear, when the time for a fight comes, better we are well-rested and able-minded, not worn-out and hopeless. These are fights we can win. Yes, they may prevail on some things, for a while, but the pendulum swings both ways in a democracy. The left will regain power, and reaffirm whatever is lost.

I trust the system, and I believe that by having this moment in time when haters are outing themselves on a feeding frenzy of self-righteousness, the center of the population will be ready to mobilize at the mid-terms, and beyond.

Despair is the tool of the oppressor.

Hope is the strength of the liberator.

Don't lose yourself under their hype, please.

Missy

Quote from: Devlyn Marie on February 03, 2017, 10:26:40 AM
Donald Trump is from New York, "The city that would grind to a halt without LGBTIQ people"    I wouldn't put much stock in any reports of him coming down on our community.

Hugs, Devlyn

It's not him necessarily but the scum pulling his puppet strings. 

Well let's hope this is true.....

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Said to Have Helped Thwart L.G.B.T. Rights Rollback

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at the Liberty Ball on Inauguration Day. They travel in liberal social circles and have long supported L.G.B.T. rights. Credit Ruth Fremson/The New York Times

WASHINGTON — The two most influential social liberals in President Trump's inner circle — daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner — helped kill a proposed executive order that would have scrapped Obama-era L.G.B.T. protections, according to people familiar with the issue.....

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/03/us/politics/lgbt-rights-ivanka-trump-jared-kushner.html?_r=0

Quote from: suzifrommd on February 02, 2017, 08:09:36 PM
From the leaked order, section 4e:

They're coming for us.

Objectively determined?  Ok assuming of course that means determination by actual facts and not personal feelings, interpretations, or predjudice.  The only way to determine factually a persons biological sex is by medical examination and good luck with getting me to comply with that BS.  So if anyone wants to determine if I'm transgender just so they can discriminate against me they are going to be as they:  ->-bleeped-<- out of luck. 

It may be time, I think, for progressives, liberals and minority populations to think about embracing their second amendment rights. Just saying.

Quote from: HappyMoni on February 03, 2017, 06:51:37 PM
I wish I could be as optimistic as you. When corporations are made  to have rights like they are people, I fear that, for some, agenda becomes more important than what is constitutional. I agree that we shouldn't freak out until something is actually announced. Let's not lose sleep for erroneous reports or distortions.
Monica
Please note this is my opinion, I am not looking to stir up anything like a political disagreement with anyone here.

I totally recognize and share your fear.  I do.  I am still a believer in the 3 branches of government and the checks and balances that they provide to prevent this type of agenda from instantiating itself in our system.  It does, and will, take opposition, especially from lawyers and solicitors, to argue the constitution and advocate for the American citizen.  We are the country, not them.  I am a big fan of our representative republic, and I believe that its intended design will help the citizens prevail.  I am an optimist, too, but also a hard and fast American that will put the screws to the government any time they step on my inalienable rights.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with inherent and inalienable rights; that among these, are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness."

Quote from: ainsley on February 04, 2017, 07:52:10 AM
I totally recognize and share your fear.  I do.  I am still a believer in the 3 branches of government and the checks and balances that they provide to prevent this type of agenda from instantiating itself in our system.  It does, and will, take opposition, especially from lawyers and solicitors, to argue the constitution and advocate for the American citizen.  We are the country, not them.  I am a big fan of our representative republic, and I believe that its intended design will help the citizens prevail.  I am an optimist, too, but also a hard and fast American that will put the screws to the government any time they step on my inalienable rights.

Thank you.

The sky hasn't fallen.

There will be MUCH opposition to this administration from ALL sides, including from Republicans themselves. Trump is not really a Republican, he is a Narcissist. He is not predictable, nor stable. He will be facing MUCH resistance from the intelligence services, from within the ranks of career civil servants, from within the Judiciary, from his own family, from just about every direction. He alienates as quickly as he buys friends. This is not the end of the world, this is the beginning of a world-class spectacle..

Quote from: laurenb on February 04, 2017, 07:07:04 AM
It may be time, I think, for progressives, liberals and minority populations to think about embracing their second amendment rights. Just saying.

This post was the first one that ever tempted me to give a thumbs down. I respect your right to your opinion and have no ill feeling toward you for having it, but I so don't think references to using weapons is anywhere close to the answer. I hated when the right did it. If people from other groups start talking this way, it would be an extremely sad day for this country. The recent stoppage of conservative speakers at colleges is unfortunate. Freedom to speak is fundamental to everything in this country. Besides it only allows them to scream victimhood. Sometimes you just have to let extremists talk and show themselves to be as ridiculous as they are. Nothing personal, Lauren.
Monica