Less than a year after a Supreme Court verdict guaranteed same-sex marriage across the country, Christian conservatives and LGBT rights advocates remain at odds. The object of discontent: legislation that proponents say would guarantee the rights of people of faith to make hiring and employment decisions based on that faith, but which opponents claim would be used as a weapon to discriminate against LGBT people.
CT recognizes that Christians hold a broad array of perspectives on these issues and invited Thomas Berg, a religious liberty scholar, to share his thoughts on the bills’ cultural and legal context. Berg teaches at the University of St. Thomas School of Law in Minneapolis and has had his work cited by the Supreme Court.
In the latest episode of Quick to Listen, Berg chatted with Morgan and Katelyn about the significance of non-discrimination ordinances, why LGBT activists feel especially threatened by much of the recent legislation, and why he thinks the two sides actually share something important in common.
- What is the scope of legislation out of North Carolina, Missouri, Georgia, and Mississippi that we've seen in the news lately? How do the bills overlap with one another? How do they differ?
- Last year, Mormons and LGBT activists worked together to pass a bill in Utah that both sides felt accomplished their interests. Is a similar compromise possible between Christian conservatives and LGBT activists?
- Many—though not all—evangelicals have recently endorsed these bills. Regardless of our own political bent, how can we talk about these bills with people who disagree with us in a graceful and truthful way?
