Report: DOJ requires employees to verbally affirm homosexuality
May 29, 2013
A brochure emailed to Department of Justice
employees requiring them to verbally affirm homosexuality regardless of
their personal beliefs has sparked accusations of religious intolerance
and viewpoint discrimination, Todd Starnes reported at Fox News Tuesday.
"The brochure was created as a resource from DOJ Pride, an association of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees of the DOJ," Starnes wrote.
According to Starnes, Liberty Counsel, a law firm that specializes in religious liberty, is representing an unidentified female DOJ worker who received the brochure, called “LGBT Inclusion at Work: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Managers.”
Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, said the woman is terrified she might lose her job unless she publicly affirms homosexuality – and she’s not alone.
According to the brochure, employees are required to verbally affirm homosexuality and place pro-gay stickers in their offices.
“Don’t judge or remain silent,” the brochure says. “Silence will be interpreted as disapproval.”
Staver said that all Americans should be outraged by the agency's actions.
“This administration is pushing the most radical, immoral agenda on the American people,” he said. “Christians are not merely required to ‘shut up,’ but now they are being coerced to embrace immorality that goes against their sincerely held religious beliefs.”
“Christians are frightened and terrified of losing their jobs,” he added. “You just can’t keep your head down and do your job. Now you have to become an advocate for the LGBT agenda – and if you don’t – the DOJ will consider that to be intolerant.”
Staver told Fox News that under the directive, Christians who oppose homosexuality on religious grounds cannot be a manager at the DOJ.
“How does one who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible display ‘gay pride’ stickers?” he asked.
In short, Liberty Counsel vice president Matt Barber told Fox News, Eric Holder's Justice Department has created an extremely hostile work environment for Christians.
"This is ‘1984’ just a few decades late,” he said. “This is so Orwellian. President Obama said he intended to fundamentally transform America. That’s exactly what they are doing and they are doing it within the Department of Justice.”
The problem goes far beyond stickers in offices, however.
According to Liberty Counsel, some female DOJ workers have expressed concerns about transgender workers using their bathroom facilities.
“They (DOJ leaders) have said if you are uncomfortable with a man in a skirt using the facilities – then tough – you need to get over it,” Barber said.
“I want people to understand that I’m real. I want to be recognized as the gender I really am…Just imagine if people were constantly debating YOUR bathroom privileges. Imagine how humiliating that would be,” a gay male is quoted in the brochure.
Employees are also told what they can say in the office.
Instead of traditional terms like husband or wife, workers are instructed to use “inclusive” words like partner or significant other. Phrases like "gay lifestyle" or "sexual preference" are forbidden.
Starnes said the DOJ did not respond to requests for comment.
"Fox News also reached out to DOJ Pride for comment – but emails were not answered," he added.
Related:
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"The brochure was created as a resource from DOJ Pride, an association of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees of the DOJ," Starnes wrote.
According to Starnes, Liberty Counsel, a law firm that specializes in religious liberty, is representing an unidentified female DOJ worker who received the brochure, called “LGBT Inclusion at Work: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Managers.”
Mathew Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel, said the woman is terrified she might lose her job unless she publicly affirms homosexuality – and she’s not alone.
According to the brochure, employees are required to verbally affirm homosexuality and place pro-gay stickers in their offices.
“Don’t judge or remain silent,” the brochure says. “Silence will be interpreted as disapproval.”
Staver said that all Americans should be outraged by the agency's actions.
“This administration is pushing the most radical, immoral agenda on the American people,” he said. “Christians are not merely required to ‘shut up,’ but now they are being coerced to embrace immorality that goes against their sincerely held religious beliefs.”
“Christians are frightened and terrified of losing their jobs,” he added. “You just can’t keep your head down and do your job. Now you have to become an advocate for the LGBT agenda – and if you don’t – the DOJ will consider that to be intolerant.”
Staver told Fox News that under the directive, Christians who oppose homosexuality on religious grounds cannot be a manager at the DOJ.
“How does one who believes in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible display ‘gay pride’ stickers?” he asked.
In short, Liberty Counsel vice president Matt Barber told Fox News, Eric Holder's Justice Department has created an extremely hostile work environment for Christians.
"This is ‘1984’ just a few decades late,” he said. “This is so Orwellian. President Obama said he intended to fundamentally transform America. That’s exactly what they are doing and they are doing it within the Department of Justice.”
The problem goes far beyond stickers in offices, however.
According to Liberty Counsel, some female DOJ workers have expressed concerns about transgender workers using their bathroom facilities.
“They (DOJ leaders) have said if you are uncomfortable with a man in a skirt using the facilities – then tough – you need to get over it,” Barber said.
“I want people to understand that I’m real. I want to be recognized as the gender I really am…Just imagine if people were constantly debating YOUR bathroom privileges. Imagine how humiliating that would be,” a gay male is quoted in the brochure.
Employees are also told what they can say in the office.
Instead of traditional terms like husband or wife, workers are instructed to use “inclusive” words like partner or significant other. Phrases like "gay lifestyle" or "sexual preference" are forbidden.
Starnes said the DOJ did not respond to requests for comment.
"Fox News also reached out to DOJ Pride for comment – but emails were not answered," he added.
Related:
- Report: Army officer labels Christian organizations as 'hate groups' in email
- Lesbian activist: Gay marriage fight a 'lie' to destroy traditional marriage
- Family Research Council: SPLC created environment that led to shooting
- Family Research Council shooting suspect identified as LGBT volunteer
- Colo. undersheriff warns: State police, Homeland Security to target Christians
- Gay activist curses, bashes Bible, Christians, GOP in speech to high school kids
- Middle school girls forced to ask for lesbian kiss in anti-bullying presentation
If you like this article, you can follow Joe on Twitter @jnewby1956, visit his Facebook page, or subscribe to receive email updates when a new article is published.
For hard-hitting conservative commentary, please visit Joe's blog, the Conservative Firing Line. You can also find Joe's articles at Right News Now, PolitiCollision, Liberty Unyielding and Spokane FAVS.
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