BREAKING: Trump Plans to Sign “Religious Exemption” Executive Order Allowing Broad Discrimination

Washington, DC, May 2, 2017—The National LGBTQ Task Force is releasing the following statement regarding President Donald Trump’s likely religious exemption executive order which he is expected to sign on Thursday. A leaked draft of the order in February, if accurate, would manipulate religion to promote widespread  discrimination.

“This executive order will be a charter for widespread and divisive discrimination, potentially against LGBTQ people, women, Muslim communities, and other marginalized communities. It is designed to destroy  lives and roll-back fundamental rights. It trashes the separation of church and state and aims to combine them. It will have an immediate and chilling impact on every aspect of people’s lives, disproportionately impacting those who  are low-income or otherwise marginalized. What will be shocking to millions of people of all faiths and secular people alike is that Trump radically twists freedom of, and freedom from, religion to justify this amoral action. In fact, the research shows that 61% of people of faith in  America actually support LGBTQ inclusion and 59% of those are against religious exemptions,” said Rea Carey, Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund.

“If the leaks earlier this year about the content of the executive order are even half accurate, it will be a truly devastating day for American freedoms. We will continue to join with immigrants, Muslims, refugees, women and other fair-minded people in protecting  what we hold to be good and true about America,” said Carey.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, May 3 at 12 p.m., hundreds of LGBTQ advocates will be joined by civil rights leaders,  women’s organizations and faith leaders as they gather in front of the White House to protest the executive order. Those unable to join the rally can support the effort online by following  the hashtag: #LicenseToDiscriminate