Diane Robertson
President Obama announced plans Monday to sign an executive order that would add homosexuality and transgender as a protected class for the employees of federal contractors.
With ENDA stalled in the House, the President decided to act unilaterally to make this part of the law. The President will not immediately sign the order until the draft is completed.
Although, as announced, this executive order only applies to federal contractors and therefore does not impact every American like the ENDA bill, non-discrimination orders such as these have continually conflicted with religious freedom.
It was a similar nondiscrimination order that caused the big lawsuit ending with the New Mexico Supreme court insisting that the owners of Elane Photography had to photograph same sex ceremonies as a “Price of Citizenship.”
It was a similar nondiscrimination order that created religious conflicts for a Colorado Baker who has now been ordered by a court to bake wedding cakes for same sex ceremonies and receive sensitivity training.
It was a similar nondiscrimination order that created religious conflicts for Baronelle Stutzman of Arlene Flowers and caused her to be sued by the Attorney General of her state of Washington.
It is nondiscrimination orders that are nullifying the first amendment protections of religious freedom and blocking everyday American citizens from acting according to their religious consciences.