GOP senator complains it's 'counterproductive' to protect equal rights

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) complained about legislation passed in the House to address bigotry and discrimination, describing the bill as “counterproductive.”

Despite massive opposition from Republicans, Democrats in the House on Friday passed the Equality Act. The landmark legislation would “prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation,” protecting the equal rights of LGBTQ Americans.

Lee was unhappy.

“Americans are becoming more tolerant every day, which is why the Equality Act is so counterproductive,” he wrote. “It unnecessarily pits communities against each other and divides our nation when patience and understanding are so sorely needed.”

Lee’s Republican allies were similarly hostile to the bill, despite the legislation attempting to further the cause of equality (like first referenced in the Declaration of Independence).

Republicans offered 24 different amendments, inserting bigoted language while trying to prevent its passage. One congressman, Texas Republican Roger Williams, even tried to insert language allowing religious establishments to “discriminate based on sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity).”

Their attempts failed, and the bill passed Friday and moves on to the Senate.

Legislation like the Equality Act is particularly necessary now because of the actions Trump is taking to further restrict the rights of LGBTQ Americans.

“The President of the United States banned transgender soldiers from serving in the U.S. military,” noted Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), responding to Lee’s ignorant statement.

Trump has pushed for his bigoted ban despite the demonstrated willingness of transgender soldiers to put their lives on the line to defend the United States.

Trump, Lee, and most of the Republicans in Congress are allied against expanding equality and human rights for everyone, but they were on the losing side of the legislative battle Friday, no matter how much they complain about it.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.