By Vanessa Falcon

Thursday, February 25th brought hope to the LGBTQ+ community when the US House approved the Equality Act— a bill that would prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. All that is left to do is get the Senate to pass it. 

The Equality Act is not a new bill. With 2019’s failure still looming over the country, many are on the edge of their seats. 

Three years ago, the bill had died as a proposed legislation in the Republican-controlled Senate. Now, as Democrats take control in the White House, House of Representatives, and narrowly in the Senate, this bill might get to see the light of day. Hope is on the horizon; though, it diminishes with each negative comment and backlash from religious communities.

If the law passes, businesses will be prohibited from using religious freedom to deny services to individuals from the LGBTQ+ community. Religious denominations, like the Coalition for Jewish Values (CJV), have been lobbying against the measure, saying the bill would suppress their liberties.

The CJV sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. They argued that the Equality Act deemed a person “bigoted” if they followed the traditional Jewish doctrine. 

“The Equality Act expressly declares that the Book of Genesis [see 2:24] and all of the Jewish laws pertaining to marriage as a sanctified union between man and woman (called “kiddushin” in Hebrew, from the word “kadosh,” Holy) are nothing more than engagement in discriminatory stereotypes,” the CJV said.

“This is a disgraceful attack upon Jewish Biblical beliefs, rendered no more excusable by the fact that other traditional religious groups have similar tenets,” the organization continued.

Although bigotry and hatred are common elements amongst several religious communities, it is becoming more and more evident that times are changing. 

A study conducted by Jan G. Janmaat and Avril Keating revealed that society is becoming more accepting of social differences because the younger generation, slowly replacing their predecessors, has been introducing and incorporating more modern concepts into the community. 

Even if there is still a long way to go, many religious figures have already shown their support towards not just the LGBTQ+ community, but the Equality Act, as well.

“I want to be clear. This legislation will not reduce religious liberty, but it will embrace it. However, this legislation will stifle religious bigotry,” stated Mitchell Gold, a religious follower in the press conference Faith for Coalition and as well a co-founder and chairman of the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams furniture company.

“America has too long and too dark a history of using religious teachings to justify discrimination. This legislation now provides an opportunity for everyone to learn and protect innocent, vulnerable people,” he continued.

There are many obstacles left for the LGBTQ+ community to overcome. Still, with support from the government and a new President, the next four years seem a bit brighter.