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Rep. Chris Stewart reintroduced the Fairness for All Act (FFA) on Friday and is getting support from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Stewart's legislation "harmonizes religious freedom and LGBT rights by amending the Civil Rights Act, protecting religious freedom in the workplace, protecting the rights of LGBT individuals, and preserving 1st amendment rights."

On Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, the House of Representatives in the United States passed H.R.5, also known as the Equality Act. The bill would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill is heavily supported by Democrats but opposed by most Republicans, who have raised concerns over the impact the bill would have on biological women as well as religious freedom.

Amid the legislation, Church Spokesperson Doug Anderson released a statement on Saturday:

Stewart originally introduced the FFA in December 2019 to require fairness in housing and the hiring of gay and transgender Americans. He said in a prepared statement:

MORE ABOUT FAIRNESS FOR ALL

FFA is the largest expansion of religious freedom and LGBT civil rights under federal law in a generation. It continues what began in Utah and builds upon existing protections for both religious and LGBT Americans in federal, state, and local law.

No American should lose their home or job simply for being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. All religious persons should be free to live, work or serve their community in ways that are consistent with their faith.

FFA preserves the Religious Freedom Restoration Act so it can continue to protect the First Amendment right of all persons to freely exercise their religion.

FFA protects LGBT people from discrimination in employment and housing. It also prohibits LGBT discrimination in a place of public accommodation and significantly expands the definition of public accommodation under federal law.

This bill protects the tax-exempt status of religious organizations and religious colleges and universities. It also protects the right of religious colleges and universitieslike Brigham Young University, Bethel University, and Catholic Universityto uphold their religious standards without jeopardizing the ability of their students to get Pell Grants or of their professors to compete for federal research contracts.

FFA protects the owners of small businesses whose religious and moral principles prevent them from participating in activities that are contrary to their conscience and beliefs.

It protects LGBT Americans from discrimination in jury selection, credit, and federally assisted programs.

Lastly, this legislation protects religious adoption and foster care agencies so they can continue to serve vulnerable children and willing couples, while at the same time ensuring the ability of LGBT persons to adopt and foster children too. Putting the interests of needy children first, the FFA Act expands adoption and foster care by including all qualified potential parents.

Alliance for Lasting Liberty Coalition: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, American Unity Fund, Center for Public Justice, 1st Amendment Partnership, The Seventh-day Adventist Church, Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, and others.

Cosponsors: Rep. Fred Upton (MI-06), Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21), Rep. John Curtis (UT-03), Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL-16), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Rep. Blake Moore (UT-01), Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04), Rep. Carlos Gimenez (FL-26), Rep. Chris Jacobs (NY-27), Rep. Claudia Tenney (NY-22), Rep. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Rep. Jennifer Gonzalez-Colon (R-PR), Rep. Maria Salazar (FL-27), Rep. Mario Diaz Balart (FL-25), Rep. Mike Simpson (ID-02), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Rep. Steve Stivers (OH-15), and Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23).

Click here to read the original press release and statements of support.

See the article here:
LDS Church supports Fairness For All Act reintroduced by Rep. Stewart that protects LGBT - KJZZ