Buckeye Reporter

House Democrats succeeded in having the Equality Act of 2021 approved but many Republicans are visibly upset and even irate at the passing of the bill.

Republicans say that the controversial bill, which prohibits discrimination against individuals based on gender identity or sexual orientation, will trample religious freedom when it becomes law.

208 Republicans voted against the proposal but there were three GOP members who sided with the Democrats. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Tom Reed and John Katko of New York voted to approve the proposal.

Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) criticized the Republicans who voted against the proposal saying that it was “ridiculous” for them to claim that the bill will trample on religious freedom.

Maloney went further to say that the Republicans think that the LGBTQ community is “morally inferior” and that the only reason why they are opposing the bill is because they are discriminating against gay people.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) was visibly upset over Maloney’s remarks and stood up to defend his party’s actions. Jordan held up some papers and said, “Here it is, on page 25. It says specifically, ‘The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993 shall not provide a legal basis for a claim’ [against a discrimination charge].”

Jordan went on and said, “The founders said in the first right, in the First Amendment to the Constitution, you can practice your religion as you see fit. But right here in their bill today, the Democrats say ‘No you can’t.’”

Jordan argues that enacting the bill will trample the religious freedoms of conservative Americans who view gender identity as only male and female.