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Six GOP Candidates Pledge to Support New Law to Allow LGBT Discrimination

Six GOP Candidates Pledge to Support New Law to Allow LGBT Discrimination

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The candidates are endorsing the First Amendment Defense Act, which would prohibit the federal government from stopping discrimination by people or businesses.

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A conservative proposal that would legalize LGBT discrimination disguised as protecting religious liberty now has the support of all but two of the remaining Republican presidential candidates, and six have signed a pledge promising to push to get it enacted within heir first 100 days in the White House, if they are elected.

Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson, Carly Fiorina, Rick Santorum, and Mike Huckabee are backing the First Amendment Defense Act, reported Think Progress. The legislation as written would stop the federal government from interfering with people or businesses which believe, according to supporters, that "marriage is or should be recognized as the union of one man and one woman" or that "sexual relations are properly reserved to such a marriage."

Three conservative groups support the pledge: the American Principles Project, Heritage Action for America, and Family Research Council Action.

In addition, Jeb Bush,Lindsey Graham, Rand Paul, and Donald Trump "have publicly expressed support for FADA," said Maggie Gallagher, Senior Fellow at American Principles Project, in a statement.

No word from Chris Christie or John Kasich, governors of New Jersey and Ohio, respectively.

Think Progress reported FADA gives people and businesses license to openly discriminate against same sex couples. The American Civil Liberties Union called it "a Pandora's Box of taxpayer-funded discrimination against same-sex couples and their children."

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The Advocate's news editor Dawn Ennis successfully transitioned from broadcast journalism to online media following another transition that made headlines; in 2013, she became the first trans staffer in any major TV network newsroom. As the first out transgender editor at The Advocate, the native New Yorker continues her 30-year media career, in which she has earned more than a dozen awards, including two Emmys. With the blessing of her three children, Dawn retains the most important job title she's ever held: Dad.
The Advocate's news editor Dawn Ennis successfully transitioned from broadcast journalism to online media following another transition that made headlines; in 2013, she became the first trans staffer in any major TV network newsroom. As the first out transgender editor at The Advocate, the native New Yorker continues her 30-year media career, in which she has earned more than a dozen awards, including two Emmys. With the blessing of her three children, Dawn retains the most important job title she's ever held: Dad.