Steve Russell on Civil Rights

	Steve Russell on Civil Rights

Government shouldn't redefine marriage

Question topic: Marriage is a union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Russell: Strongly Agree

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 House campaign , Sep 29, 2014

Respect faith-based opposition to same-sex marriage.

Russell signed respecting faith-based opposition to same-sex marriage

Congressional Summary: The First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) prohibits the federal government from taking discriminatory action against a person on the basis that such person believes or acts in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction that:

marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman, or
sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage.

Legal Argument Opposed: [Secular.org]: "The stated purpose of FADA is to protect the tax-exempt status, government contract, or any other federal benefit of those who do not comply with the Supreme Court's same-sex marriage ruling. This act's true impact would allow for sweeping, taxpayer-funded discrimination against same-sex couples and their children--all under the guise of religious liberty. FADA would completely eviscerate the historic nondiscrimination Executive Order that President Obama signed last summer that prohibits federal contractors from engaging in discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The First Amendment protects freedom of religion and freedom from religion, not the special privileges of the religiously affiliated at the expense of the fundamental rights of other Americans."

Political Argument Opposed: [ACLU, July 20, 2015]: The House of Representatives & leading anti-LGBT organizations are pushing a bill--disingenuously titled the First Amendment Defense Act--that would open the door to unprecedented taxpayer-funded discrimination against LGBT people, single mothers, and unmarried couples. This bill would

allow federal contractors, including those that provide homeless shelters or drug treatment programs, to turn away LGBT people
permit a university to fire an unmarried teacher simply for becoming pregnant
permit federal employees to refuse to process tax returns, visa applications, or Social Security checks for all married same-sex couples

Source: H.R.2802 16-HR2802 on Jun 17, 2015

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