Author: John Van Der Brink
Today ten weeks at the helm, he is already well on his way. HR 5 was introduced and was passed with 224 to 206 votes by the House of Representatives with all but three Republicans voting against it and all Democrats voting in favor of it. The bill is now before the 100-seat Senate, where the vice president can break the tie. But passage there is expected to be more difficult because a 60votes majority is required to avoid a filibuster (vote suppression due to endless verbiage), and currently there are only about 50 who favor it. Many Democrats have threatened to change the rules requiring a majority of 60, but Republicans are vehemently opposed to doing so. Making this rule change removes the stabilizing effect of a bipartisan majority support when bills are passed.
What is the Equality Act and why is it so dangerous to the moral future of America?
The roots of the Equality Act stem back to the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in which same sex marriage was legalized. Ever since, and even before then, activists have been busy across the US to completely normalize the LGBQT lifestyle. Their goal is to amend several sections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to make sexual orientation and gender identity a protected class along with race, color, national origin etc. Proponents see this as being “fair” and treating all citizens equally. But there is nothing fair about it. The results of passing the Equality Act will impose restrictions and cancel freedoms that have been part of our nation since its founding. Here are some its potential results.
a. Anyone who voices opposition to the LGBQT lifestyle would be guilty of hate speech and could be prosecuted for a civil violation. Think of what that means for Christian churches and schools who teach a Biblical view of sexuality! You would be free to speak about and promote the LGBQT lifestyle, but you would not be free to speak about and promote a Christian lifestyle. Is that fair and equal?
b. Christian owners and operators of businesses and institutions such as adoption agencies, banquet halls, cake producers, and rental facilities would be forced to modify their policies of operation or face fines or business closure. Is that fair or equal?
c. Hiring practices which currently require a distinction between male and female would need to be abolished. For example, for a business to insist on hiring a locker room or dressing room attendant who is of the same biological sex would be forbidden. Boys would be allowed to use girls bathrooms and showers, participate in girls sports if they identified themselves as a female. Is that fair or equal to all the biological females (and their husbands) who feel unsafe, humiliated, ashamed, hurt and offended by such intolerable behavior?
d. “Safe schools” would be established that would guarantee that children are taught to explore their sexuality as young as kindergarten. They would be taught they do not need to accept the way they were born, and that they can change that if they want. They may receive “sexual therapy” at school without even the consent of their own parents. However, therapy to help children identify with the way they were born would be forbidden. Is this fair or equal?
e. The use of traditional pronouns would change. There are already proposals to replace gender words such as he, him, she, her, etc. with non-gender specific pronouns. Imagine the total confusion this would create people involved in law enforcement, medicine, education, historical records and group accomodations. They would not be able to use words that identify whether someone is male or female. Is it fair or equal to those who want to be referred to as a male or female to have all references to their sexuality expunged?
The Equality Act is everything but fair and equal. Even worse, it tramples on the principles of God’s Word and His created order of life, family and freedom. It is a systematic determined rejection of the basic tenets of Christianity. We are living in troublesome days, and our children are growing up in this troubled world, target of spreading this ideology. More than ever, we need biblically normed policies, shaped in free states governed by the rule of law. (Transatlantic) Christian Council International is actively working for that. In America and also in international organizations such as the UN and its member states. After all, righteousness exalts the nations?
The days ahead for America are filled with concern. Still, there is some reason to be hopeful. We change, but God does not change. Does He still have 7000 in America who have not bowed their knees to this spirit of our time? Are there those who are active at the throne of grace begging the Lord for mercy and grace? Are there leaders , and do we support those, who want to lead us according to the principles of God’s Word? Nineveh was spared when it repented and cried to God for mercy. America must get on its knees and do the same.
John Van Der Brink is director of the Netherlands Reformed Christian School in Pompton Plains, New Jersey, and a member of the Board of Directors of Christian Council International (CCI), based in Washington DC, sister organization of Transatlantic Christian Council (TCC), based in the Netherlands. Henk Jan van Schothorst is founder and director of TCC and CCI.