GAY RIGHTS-EMPLOYMENT
Federal commission weighs LGBT job protections
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gay rights advocates say a federal law is needed to prohibit LGBT discrimination in the workplace, and that religious exemptions should be few.
Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, told the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on Monday that the nation’s “commitment to non-discrimination trumps private prejudice.”
But Roger Clegg, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, testified that “it is not necessarily immoral or irrational to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.” He said job requirements could favor the hiring of LGBT individuals in some cases and straight employees in others.
Clegg said a federal ban, which it’s not before the current Congress, would seek to “marginalize the views of Americans who believe that gay sex is a sin.”
But Sarah Warbelow of the Human Rights Campaign said a national Employment Non-Discrimination Act could allow co-workers to express religious objections to gay rights as long as LGBT employees were not harassed or abused.
Sound:
247-a-08-(Sarah Warbelow, legal policy director for the Human Rights Campaign, at hearing of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights)-“is harassing behavior”-Sarah Warbelow, legal policy director for the Human Rights Campaign, says ENDA wouldn’t prevent workplace expression of religious views on homosexuality. (16 Mar 2015)
< 246-a-07-(Roger Clegg, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, at hearing of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights)-“or gender identity”-Roger Clegg, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, says job requirements could favor placing gays in some jobs and straights in others. (16 Mar 2015) < 244-a-06-(Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, at hearing of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights)-“trumps private prejudice”-Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, says LGBT job discrimination should be banned nationwide. ((cut used in wrap)) (16 Mar 2015) < 245-a-10-(Roger Clegg, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, at hearing of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights)-“a bad aim”-Roger Clegg, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, says Congress should neither consider nor pass an Employment Non-Discrimination Act. ((longer version of cut used in wrap)) (16 Mar 2015) < 243-w-32-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor, with Kate Kendall, executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Roger Clegg, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity)–Gay rights advocates say a federal law is needed to prohibit LGBT discrimination in the workplace, and that religious exemptions should be few. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (16 Mar 2015) < SAME-SEX MARRIAGE-JUDGES Opinion: Arizona judges can’t do only opposite-sex marriages PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona judges who perform wedding ceremonies in Arizona are being told that they cannot turn away gay couples who want to marry. An opinion issued by a state judiciary ethics advisory committee says rejecting same-sex couples would violate a judicial-conduct rule against bias or prejudice based on sexual orientation. The advisory opinion also said a judge’s religious or other personal beliefs don’t make a difference. George Reimer, the committee’s top staff aide, said its opinions are not binding on judges but could weigh against them in a disciplinary case if a judge doesn’t abide by it. Cathi Herrod, president of the Center for Arizona Policy, said the opinion tramples on judges’ religious rights. Gay marriage became legal in Arizona last October. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM Indiana House panel endorses religious objections bill INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — An Indiana legislative committee has endorsed a contentious proposal that could let people with strong religious beliefs refuse to provide services for same-sex weddings. The House Judiciary Committee voted 9-4 Monday to approve the bill after a four-hour hearing inside the House chamber filled with red-wearing opponents and green-wearing supporters of the bill. Each side had more than 100 people at Statehouse rallies Monday morning. Supporters say the proposal is aimed at protecting religious freedom and preventing the government from compelling people to be involved in activities such as same-sex weddings that they consider objectionable. Opponents maintain it could give legal cover for discrimination against gays and possibly override civil rights ordinances in some cities. The bill cleared the Indiana Senate last month and now goes to the full House. NOAH’S ARK PARK Kentucky ministry asks judge to give back lost tax incentive LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The Christian ministry suing Kentucky officials over a lost tax incentive is asking a federal judge to force the state to allow the group back into the sales tax rebate program while its lawsuit proceeds. The tax incentive was meant for the Ark Encounter, a theme park planned around a 500-foot-long wooden ark modeled after the Bible’s story of Noah. State officials told Answers in Genesis in December that the project’s mission has changed from tourist attraction to ministry and denied the application. The group filed a motion seeking an injunction on Monday. Answers in Genesis argued that its application for about $18 million in sales tax rebates should be treated the same as a non-religious applicant. The lawsuit was filed in February. State officials have not commented on the legal action. SNAKE PASTOR-CHARGES Pastor from snake TV show charged with assault, endangerment LAFOLLETTE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee pastor who has appeared on a reality TV show about handling snakes in church faces charges of assault and reckless endangerment. Media outlets report that the charges against Andrew Hamblin stem from a domestic disturbance Sunday at a residence in Campbell County. No one was injured. Hamblin is the pastor of the Tabernacle Church of God in LaFollette, Tennessee, which uses snake handling in services. He has appeared on the reality show “Snake Salvation” on the National Geographic Channel. In 2013, state wildlife officials seized 53 copper heads and rattlesnakes from Hamblin and cited him for illegally keeping them, but a grand jury declined to indict him. CHURCH USHER-THEFT Church usher charged with stealing donations TONAWANDA, N.Y. (AP) — Police say a church usher in Tonawanda, New York, has been charged with stealing more than $8,000 from the collection plate. Police tell local media that an investigation was launched after several parishioners of St. Amelia’s Church noticed that donations made in 2014 hadn’t appeared on the annual tax statements provided by the church. Police charged 31-year-old Steven Brzezinski of Tonawanda with third-degree grand larceny. He’s accused of stealing the money over a period of almost two years. He is due back in court on April 6. PAKISTAN Pakistani Christians clash with police over church attacks LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police have fired tear gas on Christian protesters in Lahore a day after Taliban bombers killed 17 people in suicide attacks on two churches. Sunday’s twin bombings struck in quick succession in a Christian neighborhood of Lahore during Sunday services. The bombers detonated their suicide vests outside the two churches, about 650 yards apart. At least 70 people were wounded in the attacks, the latest assault on religious minorities in the increasingly fractured country. After the attacks, angry Christian mobs blocked the highway, ransacked bus terminals and burned two people to death who they suspected of being involved in the bombings. Christian demonstrators also blocked roads Monday in the eastern cities of Faisalabad, Sargodha and Gujranwala. Pakistani Shipping and Ports Minister Kamran Michael, a prominent leader of the minority Christian community, says all Christian schools were closed Monday as prayer services and funerals for the victims got underway. Sound: 192-a-07-(Father Mario Rodrigues, Christian protester, at demonstration protesting Sunday’s church bombings)-“pray in peace”-Father Mario Rodrigues says Pakistan’s minority Christians need protection. (16 Mar 2015) < 191-a-07-(Father Mario Rodrigues, Christian protester, at demonstration protesting Sunday’s church bombings)-“church, defenseless people”-Father Mario Rodrigues says Pakistani Christians need protection from Taliban terrorists. (16 Mar 2015) < 193-r-06-(Christian protesters chanting “Stop Terrorism” in Urdu, at demonstration protesting Sunday’s church bombings)–Sound of Christian protesters chanting “Stop Terrorism” in Urdu at demonstration protesting Sunday’s church bombings. (16 Mar 2015) < 164-v-29-(Steve Coleman, AP religion editor)–Officials in Pakistan say a pair of suicide bombers attacked two churches in the eastern city of Lahore on Sunday, as worshippers prayed inside, killing 15 people and wounding at least 70. AP Religion Editor Steve Coleman reports. (15 Mar 2015) < CHILE-BISHOP-SEX COVER-UP Pope’s zero tolerance for pedophiles faces test in Chile SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Pope Francis’ appointment of a bishop in Chile has created an outcry by victims of sex abuse and other parishioners. The Rev. Juan Barros is set to take over in the dioceses of Osorno this weekend. Some abuse victims accuse him of covering up for his mentor, the Rev. Fernando Karadima, in the 1980s and 1990s. A Vatican investigation in 2011 found the now 84-year-old Karadima guilty of molesting minors and sentenced him to a cloistered life of “penitence and prayer.” Victims say Barros knew about the abuse and sometimes even watched it. The controversy is being watched closely by victims and advocacy groups as a test of whether Francis will meet their demands to hold bishops accountable for having ignored or covered up wrongdoing by priests.
