Peter Sprigg of the Christian
conservative Family Research Council (FRC) on Monday warned that a
proposed executive order protecting LGBT workers threatens “religious
and constitutional liberties.”
President Barack Obama has reportedly
agreed to sign the order, which would bar contractors doing business
with the federal government from discrimination on the basis of
sexual orientation or gender identity.
(Related: White
House to issue gay workplace protections order.)
Sprigg said in a statement that the
order invited lawsuits.
“This political gesture reflects the
president's repeated disregard for the legislative process,” Sprigg
said. “Congress has not passed the Employment Non-Discrimination
Act (ENDA) or similar provisions, despite activists' pressure to do
so, because of the detrimental impact on employers' and employees'
constitutional freedoms of religion, speech, and association.
Historically, these kinds of provisions have not been applied to
conduct-based distinctions that are not found in the Constitution.”
“Today's announced executive order
will give activists a license to challenge their employers whenever
they feel aggrieved, exposing those employers to threats of costly
legal proceedings and the potential of jeopardizing future contracts.
Furthermore, by requiring federal contractors to consider
characteristics and behaviors related to a person's sexual
orientation or gender identity, this policy will make contractors
liable for protecting actual or perceived self-disclosed and fluid
identities that may not even be known,” he added.