• Live
    • Audio Only
  • google plus
  • facebook
  • twitter
News > World

Republican Lawmakers Vote Down LGBT Rights Measure

  • A box of cupcakes with of same-sex couples icons, San Francisco, June 29, 2013

    A box of cupcakes with of same-sex couples icons, San Francisco, June 29, 2013 | Photo: Reuters

Published 20 May 2016
Opinion

The narrowly defeated measure comes amidst intense political debate around LGBT rights

Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives voted down a measure that would protect the civil rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees of government contractors by just one vote Thursday. The move was met by anger from the Democrats. 

RELATED: 
Tennessee School Sued Over Rules on Transgender Bathroom Access

The measure, an amendment to a veterans and military construction spending bill introduced by New York Democrat Sean Maloney, initially had enough "yes" votes to pass, according to the count in the House chamber.

But House Republican leaders extended the time allowed for the vote as they urged enough party members to change their positions to defeat the amendment by a vote of 213 to 212.

All 183 Democrats who voted backed the amendment, along with 29 Republicans. All 213 "no" votes were from Republicans.

"House Republicans are so committed to discriminating against LGBT Americans, that they broke regular order to force their members to reverse their votes and support Republicans' bigotry," Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, said according to Reuters.

Republicans who backed the provision said it was necessary to protect the religious rights of military contractors.

LGBT rights have been a hot issue during the 2016 election season. National politics have featured debate over whether making cakes for same-sex couples violates bakers' religious freedom.

RELATED: 
Canada to Introduce Transgender Rights Bill

North Carolina and the U.S Justice Department sued each other over a law that prohibits people from using public bathrooms that do not match the gender a transgender person’s birth certificate.

Since then, the Obama administration has told U.S. public schools that transgender students must be allowed to use the bathroom of their choice.

Thursday's emotionally-charged vote came hours after the House late on Wednesday passed a $602 billion defense authorization bill that included "religious freedom" language that critics said would allow contractors to discriminate against LGBT individuals.

Comment
0
Comments
Post with no comments.