Republican presidential candidate
Donald Trump is backing a proposed bill that supporters claim would
protect opponents of marriage equality.
Introduced June 17 by Senator Mike Lee of Utah and Rep. Raul Labrador of Idaho, the First
Amendment Defense Act (FADA) seeks to bar federal “discriminatory
action” against those who oppose the unions of gay and lesbian
couples based on a “religious belief or moral conviction.”
“If Congress considers the First
Amendment Defense Act a priority, then I will do all I can to make
sure it comes to my desk for signature and enactment,” Trump said
in a letter published last week by conservative outlet The Pulse.
The letter was written by the American
Principles Project, which is working to secure passage of FADA.
Earlier this month, the social
conservative group, which is led by Maggie Gallagher, the former
leader of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), said in a
press release that six GOP presidential candidates – Ted Cruz, Ben
Carson, Carly Fiorina, Mike Huckabee, Marco Rubio and Rick Santorum –
had pledged to push for passage of FADA and sign it into law during
the first 100 days of their administration.
(Related: Ted
Cruz, Marco Rubio, Ben Carson pledge immediate action to protect gay
marriage opponents.)
“The priorities that the next
president will need to establish are not known at this time,” Trump
wrote. “Protection of the nation and its citizens must come first.
Getting the economy back on track must be near the top of the list.
Preserving and protecting the rights of our citizens must also be in
the mix.”
During
a recent interview, Gallagher applauded Trump for his pledge not
to veto the legislation.
(Related: Donald
Trump: Gay marriage is like an unattractive golf putter.)