It’s the ENDA the Line for Contractors: Workplace Benefits for the “Sexually Confused”

ednaThe Family Research Council issued the following analysis of the impact of President Obama’s newest Executive Order giving workplace benefits to the “sexually confused”:

After 30 days of nonstop, in-your-face celebration, the White House is capping off “gay pride” month with its biggest gift yet. Next Monday, the pot of gold at the end of this President’s rainbow is an executive order giving special workplace benefits to the sexually confused. For the far-Left, it caps off a long fight to get the administration to do what Congress has not: order employers to put aside their profits, principles, and practices in the name of political correctness.

The President’s order implementing part of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) — once considered “too radical” even for his own party — forces government contractors and subcontractors to hire gays, lesbians, transvestites, and transsexuals — regardless of their legally protected morals. This level of coercion is nothing less than viewpoint blackmail — and from the federal government no less!

Earlier this week, Vice President Joe Biden said “gay rights” should be everyone’s priority, “I don’t care what your culture is.” Apparently, that includes the business culture, whose companies will either be excluded from federal contracts because of their beliefs or have to violate their policies to get them. At the very least, it may force people who depend on government work out of business. At its worst, it will bully into silence every contractor and subcontractor who disagrees with homosexual behavior.

And unfortunately, this doesn’t just affect Fortune 500 companies but the government’s small business partners, who may have very legitimate reasons for not allowing someone to cross-dress on the job. “The gender identity provisions,” FRC’s Peter Sprigg warned in an op-ed for CNN, “undermine the right of employers to impose reasonable dress and grooming standards, by forbidding employers to use the most fundamental standard of all — that people be dressed in a way [that’s] appropriate for their biological sex!” Today, I reiterated the longstanding concerns FRC has with the legislation and the potential executive order with President Obama.

In one of the greatest ironies, the Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on religious liberty Monday — the same day the President plans on issuing his order steamrolling businesses with moral beliefs. Like the HHS mandate, the planned executive order puts employers in the position of deciding between their faith and their jobs. And its effects, which we won’t know until the language is released, could even affect social service contracts like Catholic Charities or overseas groups with USAID contracts.

Life hasn’t exactly been rosy for the business community under this administration. First, the President’s policies kept the economy in the tank. Then he strangled the financial and energy sectors by passing a health care law that’s trampling employers’ freedom and crushing their bottom lines. Now, as if those burdens weren’t enough, the President’s party wants to tell companies how they should run their business, who they should hire, and what they can and can’t believe.

Obviously, the White House didn’t learn much from the lesson on lawlessness it got yesterday from the Supreme Court — because this decision just reiterates the President’s utter disregard for the legislative process. Congress hasn’t passed ENDA, and for good reason. If Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) is serious about taking President Obama to court for legislating without Congress, Monday’s order should be court exhibit A.

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