GAY AND LESBIAN ATHEISTS AND HUMANISTS
P.O. Box 34635, Washington, DC 20043-4635
www.galah.org
December 14, 2001
Contact person: Tom Klem
tomonroad@yahoo.com
www.galah.org
WHEN DISCUSSING BUSH'S "FAITH-BASED" INITIATIVE DON'T FORGET DISCRIMINATION IN PROVIDING SERVICES, ATHEISTS/HUMANISTS URGE
Gay and Lesbian Atheists and Humanists (GALAH) asks activists in the LGBT community to remember that in addition to issues of employment discrimination, George W. Bush's "faith-based" initiative would result in heterosexist discrimination against those who depend on government services.
"This effort by George W. Bush and other Religious Right leaders to divert government funding from inclusive charities to religious ones will result in lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgenders being denied access to some government-funded programs," explained GALAH Treasurer Tom Klem. "It also will force queers to chose between losing needed government services and enduring extremely hostile environments. As long as so many religions are homophobic, diverting government programs to them is just as bad a deal for the lgbt community as it is for separation of church and state."
After the controversy in which the Salvation Army has tried to get specific exemptions from local ordinances which prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, much has been made of these programs resulting in federal funds going to charities that refuse to hire lesbians, gays, and bisexuals. Even without the specific exemptions sought by the Salvation Army, such discrimination may be exempt from local civil rights ordinances due to loopholes for religious organizations. This issue is a legitimate concern that provides more than ample reason to oppose the Bush Administration's efforts to fund religious charities.
However, GALAH would ask people not to forget the people who need government services.
GALAH is on record as opposing this assault on state/church separation. GALAH joined 62 other organizations in endorsing "The Day That Counts," a historic press conference organized by American Atheists July 17 in which united the freethought community in its opposition to the federal faith-based proposal. For more information, please go to:
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