Your immediate action is needed to help stop the passage of a bill by our State Legislature that would be harmful to our society and that would attack religious freedom.
Legislative Bill 586 would make “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” protected classifications under Nebraska’s employment laws. All persons, including those who experience same-sex attractions, have inherent human dignity and must be treated with respect, including in the workplace. But LB 586 would go far beyond this by requiring employers with 15 or more employees to affirm sexual activity and relationships outside marriage between a man and a woman, and to affirm gender identity as a social construct, in their personnel management and policies. Employers would also be required to allow employees to promote and advocate for such lifestyles and fluid gender perceptions within and outside the workplace regardless of whether such advocacy would be detrimental to the business’ mission or operations.
Both the nature of these new “unlawful employment practices” and ambiguities in the legislation would make employers vulnerable to expensive and time-consuming public administrative hearings and civil lawsuits as well as the attendant negative publicity. If found “guilty,” they could be subject to injunctions to force them to abide by the mandates, be forced to pay the job applicant or employee both “general” and “special” damages, and to pay attorney’s fees and costs. It could put them out of business.
This coercion would apply not only to individual employers who have religious or conscience objections, but also to church entities, organizations and schools. Catholic schools, social services, and day care centers, as well as those of other faith communities, would be subject to the same requirements or face the same penalties.
Various proposals are being made to include a “religious exemption” and to make other changes to the bill, but it is clear that these attempts at a compromise would, at best, only result in lengthy and expensive litigation to attempt clarification with uncertain outcomes. At worst, any changed language would only be window dressing to mislead well-intentioned senators into voting for a bad bill.
LB 586 recently was voted out of the Judiciary Committee and could be debated by the entire Legislature within a few days.
The Nebraska Catholic Conference, under the guidance of the three Diocesan Bishops, is firmly opposed to LB 586 and believes that no political compromise is possible that would render the bill acceptable. It is poor public policy, would seriously harm the public good, and is a grave threat to religious liberty. Additional information is available online at www.necatholic.org (under “Take Action”).
It is critical and urgent that you contact your state senator immediately by phone and/or e-mail with this simple message:
Please oppose LB 586, regardless of any amendments that may be proposed or made to the bill.
You can e-mail your senator quickly and easily online at www.necatholic.org (“Take Action”). You can reach your senator by phone by calling the Capitol at (402) 471-2788. Do not hesitate to leave a message on your senator’s voicemail if you call after business hours.
