Interfaith Alliance President Rev. Dr. C. Welton Gaddy issued the following statement applauding the 15-7 Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions committee vote to send the Employment Non-Discrimination Act to the floor of the U.S. Senate: 

“The strong bipartisan vote in support of ENDA today in the Senate HELP Committee is no small feat and is another indicator of how far we have come as a nation, a reflection of the breadth of support for protections like this. It is long past time for ENDA to become law and I urge the Senate to move quickly to schedule a vote and, of course, to pass this legislation.”

“It is no secret that religion and religious freedom are often invoked as reasons to oppose ENDA and other measures that would ensure LGBT Americans are fully and equally protected under law. This law, however, broadly exempts houses of worship and religiously affiliated organizations, mirroring the exemptions provided in the religious discrimination provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Any claims that ENDA is a threat to religious liberty are misplaced. Religion should never be used to discriminate.”

Interfaith Alliance is a network of people of diverse faiths and beliefs from across the country working together to build a resilient democracy and fulfill America’s promise of religious freedom and civil rights not just for some, but for all. We mobilize powerful coalitions to challenge Christian nationalism and religious extremism, while fostering a better understanding of the healthy boundaries between religion and government. We advocate at all levels of government for an equitable and just America where the freedoms of belief and religious practice are protected, and where all persons are treated with dignity and have the opportunity to thrive. For more information visit interfaithalliance.org.