'Fairness for All' Bill an Alternative to Dangerous Equality Act: Would Provide Civil Liberties for LGBTQ, AND Protections for People of Faith

Steve Warren : Feb 25, 2021
CBN News

"We have bipartisan support for this. It's not just a Republican idea. It's not just a conservative idea. There's some of our Democratic colleagues who are going to join us on that and once they see that they're not going to force this on the Senate, that opens the door to look at an alternative." -Rep. Chris Stewart

[CBN News] Lawmakers in Washington, DC are getting ready to decide on a landmark piece of LGBTQ legislation that would crush religious liberty. (Image: Unsplash)

The US House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on the legislation known as the Equality Act.  But there's also an alternative approach that would protect religious freedom.  

The alternative measure is called the Fairness for All Act. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT). It would provide civil liberties for LGBTQ individuals while also providing protections for people of faith.

"There's room here to find an area where both can be accommodated, where both can be comfortable. The Equality Act doesn't do that. Fairness for All will," Stewart said. 

House Democrats are expected to pass the Equality Act as they did in 2019.  The real battle over the bill will likely come in the Senate.

"I don't think this will pass in the Senate and that opens up the opportunity for Fairness for All," Stewart explained. "We have bipartisan support for this. It's not just a Republican idea. It's not just a conservative idea. There's some of our Democratic colleagues who are going to join us on that and once they see that they're not going to force this on the Senate, that opens the door to look at an alternative." 

When House Democrats introduced the bill last week, President Biden echoed his support for the Equality Act just like he did last year on the campaign trail. 

"I urge Congress to swiftly pass this historic legislation," Biden said in a statement. "Every person should be treated with dignity and respect, and this bill represents a critical step toward ensuring that America lives up to our foundational values of equality and freedom for all." Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

The Equality Act would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to explicitly prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, according to NPR.