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NGLTF tells White House:
Hey George--Don't Tread on Us!

Lori L. Jean Blasts Anti-Gay Conservatives in U.S. Congress

Using Our Tax Dollars to Enforce GLBT Job Discrimination

By Lorri L. Jean, Executive Director
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force

Question: When is local control no longer local control?

Answer: When it's the Bush Administration and the anti-gay conservatives in Congress who are calling the shots.

Lorri L. Jean: NGLTF's leader on the offense

The debate over Bush's proposed faith-based initiatives took an alarming turn earlier this month when the Washington Post revealed a secret deal between the Bush Administration and the Salvation Army. Under the deal, the Bush Administration would issue a federal order -- called OMB Circular No. A-102, in Beltway-speak -- that would allow service- providing religious groups receiving federal dollars to ignore state and local sexual orientation nondiscrimination laws.

These religious groups run soup kitchens, manage homeless shelters, offer substance abuse treatment, arrange child care, provide job training and carry out many other invaluable functions for those who fall below the safety net. If, as Bush and others have proposed, they are to receive tax dollars, it is important that they not be allowed to discriminate on the basis of religious belief or sexual orientation, both in terms of whom they hire and whom they serve.

An embarrassed White House last week announced that it would no longer pursue the federal order. But unfortunately, the debate swirled around "what did the White House say and when did it say it?" instead of what should have been the central focus: why government-funded religious programs pose a threat to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities, or any groups who have views that differ from those of religious service providers.

After the White House's so-called reversal, many were left with the impression that our communities will not face discrimination if the faith-based initiatives become law. Many are unaware that a bill strongly endorsed by Bush includes language that is identical to the bigoted back-room deal originally struck between the White House and the Salvation Army.

The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. J.C. Watts and could come to the House floor for a vote this week, would allow any religious organization receiving federal funds to ignore state and local laws banning discrimination against GLBT people. Twelve states have civil rights laws, along with more than 230 towns, cities, counties, school districts, library boards and other types of local governments. Altogether, about one-third of all Americans live in a municipality or a state with such a law -- this bill would gut decades of hard-won gains by state and local GLBT activists and our allies.

Faith-Based Initiative sponsor Rep. J.C. Watts

What's particularly infuriating about this proposal is not just that Congress and the White House are willing to discriminate against GLBT people, but they want to use our tax dollars to do it! We are being asked to fund our own oppression!

Fortunately, there is a remedy in sight. Rep. Barney Frank has agreed to offer an amendment to the Watts bill, also known as H.R. 7, that would prevent the circumvention of local civil rights laws by religious groups using government dollars. The amendment was offered by Frank and Rep. Tammy Baldwin in committee, but was defeated in a party-line vote. Frank has announced that he will submit this amendment for consideration when the bill is brought up on the House floor.

If some of the Republican moderates who represent jurisdictions with nondiscrimination laws can be convinced that these laws should not be ignored by Congress, Frank's amendment will pass. But these representatives need to hear from the GLBT communities. And they need to hear from us now!

It is ironic that a party that preaches "local control" and "states' rights" is trying desperately to deny people at the state and local level the right to self-govern. And it's doubly ironic that a former governor of Texas who campaigned on a states' rights platform would go along with this.

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But the good news is we don't have to let it happen. This is a battle we can win -- not by what we do in Washington but by what you do in your local community. Call your representative in Congress today.