Today, the AHA joined 83 other members of the Coalition Against Religious Discrimination in opposing the Russell Amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment would allow federal contractors to discriminate against LGBT employees under the guise of “religious liberty.”
Read the letter below, or click here to download a PDF version.
The Coalition Against Religious Discrimination
May 18, 2016
Re: CARD Opposes Taxpayer-Funded Employment Discrimination
Dear Representative:
The 84 undersigned religious, education, civil rights, labor, and women’s organizations write to voice our strong opposition to the sweeping language in HR 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2017, that authorizes taxpayer-funded discrimination in each and every federal contract and grant.
The government should never fund discrimination and no taxpayer should be disqualified from a job under a federal contract or grant because he or she is the “wrong” religion.
We appreciate the important role religiously affiliated institutions historically have played in addressing many of our nation’s most pressing social needs, as a complement to government- funded programs. Indeed, many of us are directly involved in this work. We also recognize that the separation of church and state is the linchpin of religious freedom. In our view, effective government collaboration with faith-based groups does not require the sanctioning of federally funded religious discrimination.
Because it is inconsistent with the longstanding principle that federal dollars must not be used to discriminate, we urge you to stand up against the sweeping provision in the bill that sanctions taxpayer-funded employment discrimination.
If you would like further information, please contact Maggie Garrett, (202) 466-3234 x. 226, garrett@au.org or Dena Sher, (202) 466-3234 x. 281, sher@au.org.
Sincerely,
9to5, National Association of Working Women
African American Ministers In Action
Alliance of Baptists
American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Atheists
American Civil Liberties Union
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
American Federation of Teachers
American Humanist Association
American Jewish Committee (AJC)
Americans for Religious Liberty
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Anti-Defamation League
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC
Autistic Self Advocacy Network
Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty
BiNet USA
Bend the Arc Jewish Action
Campus Pride
Catholics for Choice
Center for Inquiry
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Council for Secular Humanism
Disciples Justice Action Network
Equal Partners in Faith
Equality Federation
Family Equality Council
Friends Committee on National Legislation
GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
Hindu American Foundation
Human Rights Campaign
Institute for Science and Human Values
Interfaith Alliance
Japanese American Citizens League
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
Jewish Women International (JWI)
Lambda Legal
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
League of United Latin American Citizens
Legal Voice
Marriage Equality USA
Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers
Movement Advancement Project
Muslim Advocates
Muslims for Progressive Values
NAACP
National Abortion Federation
National Association of Social Workers
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Center for Transgender Equality
National Council of Churches, USA
National Council of Jewish Women
National Education Association
National Employment Lawyers Association
National Health Law Program
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Women’s Law Center
People For the American Way
Physicians for Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Population Connection Action Fund
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Pro-Choice Resources
The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Secular Coalition for America
Secular Policy Institute
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the U.S. (SIECUS)
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF)
The Sikh Coalition
Sikh Council on Religion and Education
Southern Poverty Law Center
Texas Freedom Network
The Trevor Project
Union for Reform Judaism
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist Church, General Board of Church and Society
Whitman-Walker Health
Women of Reform Judaism