Obama Supports Updating Civil Rights Act for LGBT
The Obama administration has said it supports the Equality Act, a federal measure intended to outlaw discrimination against LGBT people.
Spokesman Josh Earnest announced Tuesday the bill would protect religious freedom while also providing equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.
"We look forward to working with Congress to ensure that the legislative process produces a result that balances both the bedrock principles of civil rights .?.?. with the religious liberty that we hold dear in this country," Earnest said.
CBN News' Lorie Johnson spoke with Dr. Alveda King, niece of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., about the debate over whether this is a civil rights issue. Click play to watch.
The Equality Act would update the 1964 Civil Rights Act to provide LGBT Americans with lasting protections against discrimination in employment, housing, education and other areas.
It is unlikely the bill will become law while Obama is in office since Republicans now in control of both chambers of Congress.
The announcement came out the same day President Barack Obama appeared as the first sitting president ever to appear on the cover of Out magazine, an LGBT publication.
Obama spoke about the recent debate over Kentucky court clerk, Kim Davis's actions which caused her to be briefly jailed earlier this year when she refused on the basis of her faith to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple.
"I am a man of faith and believe deeply in religious freedom, but at the end of the day, nobody is above the rule of law especially someone who voluntarily takes an oath to uphold that law," Obama told the Out. "That's something we've got to respect."
Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr., will talk with CBN News about the president's move and if the two issues should be equated. Check back here for her interview Thursday by 12:00pm eastern time.
