"Alarmed by society's growing acceptance of same-sex relationships and transgender individuals, conservative Christian groups have become leaders in the fight to strip away the rights that LGBTQ Americans gained under the Obama administration. And after years of waiting, they finally have what they wanted: A president and an administration willing to prioritize their religious beliefs. On Friday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a directive that undercuts protections for queer Americans."
"The directive instructs federal agencies to accommodate "to the greatest extent" possible the claims of people who say their religious freedoms are being violated ― removing their burden to prove their beliefs are sincerely held, which could make it easier for their beliefs to override the civil rights of queer people. The guidance from Sessions is just one of a series of moves made by the Trump administration to attack progress on LGBTQ rights."
Conservative Christian groups mobilized against growing acceptance of same-sex relationships and transgender people and sought to reverse LGBTQ rights gained under the Obama administration. The Trump administration prioritized religious-liberty claims, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued guidance directing federal agencies to accommodate religious objections and easing the burden of proving sincerity. Critics warn the guidance could allow religious beliefs to override civil rights and amount to a license to discriminate. Conservative religious leaders welcomed the shift while progressive Christian denominations and queer theologians emphasized inclusion and warned that tying Christianity to anti-queer campaigns harms queer Christians and the church as a whole.
Read at HuffPost
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