LGBT, HIV, and Women’s Groups Speak Out Against Efforts to Let Corporations Discriminate

Saying that an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case and a slew of state legislation are all part of a dangerous agenda to give corporations new rights to discriminate and deny health care, nearly 50 leading lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, HIV, and women’s groups today issued a joint statement vowing to fight so-called “license to discriminate” efforts at every level.

The unusual joint statement comes on the heels of Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer’s vetoing SB 1062, legislation that would have allowed businesses to refuse services to LGBT people based on the owner’s personal religious beliefs and comes just three weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments by corporations that want to defy federal law and take away birth control coverage from their employees based on the corporate owners’ personal religious beliefs.

Following is the joint statement issued, with the list of organizations that issued it.

Statement of Opposition to “License to Discriminate” Efforts:
 
We represent, serve, and advocate for millions of Americans, including women; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people; people with HIV and AIDS; and others.
 
We value the rights of all people to exercise their religion free from discrimination or interference. However, we are deeply alarmed by a sharp increase in efforts by politicians and corporations to use religious objections to discriminate against and deny health care to large numbers of Americans. Simply put, this isn’t about religious liberties. It’s about letting corporations pick and choose which laws they obey.
 
This is much bigger than one bill in one state. Legislation has been introduced in at least 10 states to allow companies to discriminate against LGBT people and others, while the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments from corporations that want to take away birth control coverage from their employees. All of these attacks are cut from the same dangerous cloth, and they would roll back the clock on the balance our nation has struck to respect religious beliefs while protecting the rights and liberties of all.
 
People from all across the country would face very real harm if corporations get a license to discriminate under the guise of religious liberty. LGBT people could be turned away at hotels and restaurants, women could be denied access to birth control, people with HIV or AIDS could be denied health care, single mothers could be denied bank loans, and children could be prevented from getting immunizations.
 
Because this extreme agenda poses a very real threat to millions of American, and because it poses a threat to bedrock American values, we stand strongly united against it. Together, we will fight these attacks from boardrooms to state legislatures to the U.S. Supreme Court, and together we will ensure that everyone’s freedoms are protected.
 
Advocates for Youth
American Association of University Women (AAUW)
American Civil Liberties Union
American Medical Student Association
American Society for Reproductive Medicine
Bethel Christian Church, DC
Bisexual Resource Center
Black Women’s Health Imperative
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Equality Federation
Family Equality Council
The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
Feminist Majority Foundation
Feminist Women’s Health Center
Freedom to Work
Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)
Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
GetEQUAL
GLAAD
GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality
GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis)
Harvey Milk Foundation
Human Rights Campaign
International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC)
Lambda Legal
Marriage Equality USA
Movement Advancement Project (MAP)
NARAL Pro-Choice America
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
National Organization for Women (NOW)
National Women’s Health Network
Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Physicians for Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Population Connection Action Fund
Population Institute
Pride at Work AFL-CIO
Raising Women’s Voices for the Health Care We Need
Reproductive Health Technologies Project
Rivers at Rehoboth Church, NYC
Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS)
Southwest Women’s Law Center
Transgender Law Center
Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC)
The Trevor Project

Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.