![\"First](\"http:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/Labrador.Lee_.jpg?resize=480%2C229\")
<\/a><\/p>\nRep. Raul Labrador (R-Idaho, above left) will reintroduce the First Amendment Defense Act, and House and Senate members are also planning to file legislation to protect people with religious objections to same-sex<\/a> marriage.<\/p>\n Labrador filed FADA\u00a0last year with Senator Mike Lee (R-UT, above left). It had 172 co-sponsors.<\/p>\n Donald Trump has pledged to sign the bill in his first 100 days<\/a>.<\/p>\n Buzzfeed\u2019s Dominic Holden first reported on the developments.<\/p>\n JUST IN: Rep Labrador will refile 1st Amendment Defense Act to protect religious people & biz opposed to same-sex<\/a> marriage, his office says.<\/p>\n \u2014 Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) January 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n I\u2019ve confirmed House and Senate members plan to refile bills to protect people who have a religious objection to same-sex<\/a> marriage.<\/p>\n \u2014 Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) January 27, 2017<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Human Rights Campaign\u00a0explained what\u2019s in the First Amendment Defense Act last year<\/a>:<\/p>\n The legislation would prohibit any adverse action by the federal government against an individual or organization for discriminatory actions against legally married same-sex<\/a> couples<\/a> as long as they claim they are acting in accordance with their religious beliefs. \u201cAdverse action\u201d is broadly defined to include the denial or revocation of a federal tax status or deduction; denial of a federal grant, contract, loan, benefit or employment; or any other act of discrimination. The bill provides individuals and organizations the right to sue the federal government for monetary damages in federal court.<\/p>\n If passed, this legislation would create a breakdown of government services and runaway litigation. \u00a0It would permit a federal employee, for example, to refuse to process tax returns, visa applications or Social Security checks whenever a same-sex<\/a> couple<\/a>\u2019s paperwork appears on his or her desk. \u00a0This legislation would also permit recipients of federal grants and contracts, including those for social services programs like homeless shelters and substance abuse treatment programs, to turn away LGBT people. \u00a0It allows any of these individuals or groups, or anyone else who believes they have been somehow required by the federal government to approve of married same-sex<\/a> couples<\/a>, to file a lawsuit and potentially receive damages from taxpayer money.<\/p>\n The post GOP Congressman to Reintroduce \u2018First Amendment Defense Act\u2019, the Vilest Religious Freedom Bill of Our Time<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n
\n