Caller gives Biden B+ but is "very worried" about Equality Act
Caller gives Biden B+ but is "very worried" about Equality Act
Mike in New York actually provided a moment to dispel lies, putting out a falsehood but willing to be educated about it.
Appears in this episode
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In a discussion on my SiriusXM show about the high approval numbers we’re seeing for President Biden and the $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill — and what people thought of the job the president is doing so far — Mike from New York called in to say he’d give Biden a B+. He liked the “change in tone.” He liked his “operating in the institutional framework” and the “show of respect” and turning away from the “high-fevered nonsense” Trump.
But he said there are things he’s not in favor of, and noted he is “very worried” about the Equality Act, the broad LGBTQ anti-discrimination bill that would add LGBTQ people to protected groups under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Right now, 29 states don’t have such protections in employment, housing, public accommodations and many other areas. And Biden has championed the bill, which passed the House in recent weeks, saying during the 2020 campaign that he wanted to sign it within his first 100 days.
Mike, clearly someone who is more conservative but who nonetheless liked Biden, was ready to move on to something else — but I had to stop him in his tracks and make him explain. Mike said he was worried about “unintended consequences,” and then under questioning raised the right-wing false claim suggesting churches would have to “perform gay marriages.”
I explained that the Civil Rights Act protects religion — and doesn’t force churches to perform weddings of people who are not part of their faith, for example. The claim he made has been part of the hateful agenda of those opposed to LGBTQ rights, distorting the issue as an attack on “religious freedom.” It’s an outright lie.
Mike first claimed he had “read the Equality Act,” and admitted that maybe he “misread” it — though he later admitted he had “gotten that [interpretation] off the National Review” website, the longtime right-wing publication that is hostile to LGBTQ rights.
And Mike said he could be wrong and was willing to go back and read more. He let it be known he was open to being educated.
I thought the call was instructive not only about how the far-right distorts issues, and how people might be sucked into it. It was also interesting because someone who likely is a social conservative expressed his support for Biden, a man who’s now signing the most progressive stimulus bill in decades, growing the social safety net in a bigger way than anything since the Great Depression. I think Mike underscored the challenges Republicans have, as many of their own voters support Biden’s efforts.
It was one of those calls in which not only the caller learned something but hopefully a lot of people listening did as well. And I learned something too.
Listen in and let me know your thoughts.
Caller gives Biden B+ but is "very worried" about Equality Act
First, anyone concerned about the Equality Act that what passed by the House on 2/25/21 needs to read it first before commenting on it. Second, those same people, like Mike, need to get a better understanding about how such legislation is written in relation to the US Constitution amendments. It is the primary reason why Trumpers and other right-wing hooligans are who they are; lack or understanding of laws, rights, amendments, the Constitution, how our government works and why, the civil rights acts, etc.. Furthermore, their lack of any motivation to educate themselves is their hallmark. I include here the synopsis of the Equality Act as it sits with the Senate for consideration (from Congress.gov)
Equality Act
This bill prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit, and the jury system. Specifically, the bill defines and includes sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination or segregation.
The bill expands the definition of public accommodations to include places or establishments that provide (1) exhibitions, recreation, exercise, amusement, gatherings, or displays; (2) goods, services, or programs; and (3) transportation services.
The bill allows the Department of Justice to intervene in equal protection actions in federal court on account of sexual orientation or gender identity.
The bill prohibits an individual from being denied access to a shared facility, including a restroom, a locker room, and a dressing room, that is in accordance with the individual's gender identity
Hi Mike:
I have been listening to you today, Thursday. Our son works at Rockefeller University and he had been sick with flu like symptoms beginning to mid February, 2020 and had stayed home for a few days. At the time Covid was not really on the news. After a few months when the virus was so bad, he had assumed that he had gotten Covid but he couldn't get a test to see if he had antibodies. We had come into NYC on the 27 & 28 of February to go with him to see the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. We were in close corners with people and no one at the time was wearing masks. It was a week later that everything had shut down in NYC. Also 2 of his labs mates had tested positive for Corona Virus and Rockefeller University shut down at the same time Colbert shut down. When I got my first vaccine shot beginning of this month it was like I had won the lotto. What a relief and my second shot is schedule for the 16th. My husband got his first shot last week and his second is scheduled for the 31st. The feeling I have is elation, relief, excitement, you name it. This past year has been the pits. We lost our 2 doggies, one was 15 1/2 years old and 14 1/2 years old. We have been dealing with one of our 4 sons that is an alcoholic, another lost his job but his wife has gone back to work. What a year. Thank you for keeping me sane. Love you.