White House has ‘no plans at this time’ to sign anti-LGBT religious freedom order
According to a White House spokesperson, Donald Trump has no plans “at this time” to sign an Executive Order to make it legal to discriminate against LGBT people.
Speaking to ABC News, White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders said: “We do not have plans to sign anything at this time but will let you know when we have any updates.”
A draft of the order has been circulating Trump’s administration and was leaked to ABC News. LGBT organisations quickly denounced the bill, entitled “Establishing a Government-Wide Initiative to Respect Religious Freedom.”
The order calls for religious freedom “when providing social services, education, or healthcare; earning a living, seeking a job, or employing others.”
In short, this allows people and organisations to discriminate against LGBT people as long as they have religious or moral objections.
Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, said: “If anything in this document were to become federal law, it would be a national license to discriminate, and it would endanger LGBT people and their families.”
However, White House officials assured ABC News that the bill was one among many others that are only circulating the administration.
Trump’s administration claims that not all orders reflect the entire administration’s thinking or policy.
More stories:
How Instagram became the new gay cruising ground
‘There’s more to me than just a body’ – Tom Daley dives into Attitude’s body issue