.Brent Leatherwood, head of state of the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Compensation, which is the denomination’s public law arm, takes aim at LGBTQ+ protections, abortion accessibility in priorities request.Leatherwood letter features positive outlook among evangelical Religious for Trump’s 2nd term, even with after effects earlier on initiative path over GOP relaxing viewpoint on abortion.In addition to proceeded advocacy for abortion regulations, Leatherwood character to Trump signals evangelicals expects turning around LGBTQ+ antidiscrimination protections.In a marker of christian Christians’ expect President-elect Donald Trump’s second phrase, Southern Baptist Rule public law leaders asked the incoming administration to prioritize restricting abortion as well as reversing antidiscrimination defenses for LGBTQ+ people.Despite evangelicals’ irritation along with Trump on the campaign route for easing his stance against abortion, a character coming from the SBC’s Ethics & Religious Freedom Payment to Trump’s transition staff shows a revived optimism for conservative policy postures on major social issues.The letter describes a series of policy concerns for the Trump administration to think about in its own initial one hundred times: restraining accessibility and also backing for abortion providers as well as the abortion supplement, turning around an exec order issued through Head of state Joe Biden along with advice to federal agencies on antidiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ folks, and also reversing various other government guidelines under Biden safeguarding LGBTQ+ civil rights.” President Trump will assure numerous Americans that they will not be targeted by the federal authorities simply for relying on organic realities or pursuing their religious convictions,” Brent Leatherwood, head of state of the Integrities & Religious Liberty Percentage, said in a Nov. 11 letter to Trump switch team co-chairs Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon.Leatherwood’s recommendation to the targeting of theological convictions on sex is a response to a Biden administration executive order entitled “Protecting against as well as Combating Bias on the Manner of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation,” a compendium of standards for government agencies on carrying out antidiscrimination securities for LGBTQ+ people.Similarly, Leatherwood kept in mind other guidelines permitted under the Biden administration due to the united state Department of Health And Wellness and also Person Solutions and United State Team of Education banning bias versus LGBTQ+ people in health insurance, student financial assistance as well as foster care.The Integrity & Religious Freedom Percentage has actually long been most active in encouraging for abortion regulations, though it’s frequently active in resisting LGBTQ+ legal rights. Just recently, the public plan arm filed an amicus concise with the USA High court in support of Tennessee’s gender-affirming treatment ban.Leatherwood likewise asked Trump to focus on various other abortion-related items, including turning around improved access to mifepristone.
In addition, he inquired the Trump management to renew policies that stop abortion care providers from getting federal government financing.” Head of state Trump will certainly initiate a revived focus on shielding lifestyle as well as the deeply-held religious beliefs of citizens from government overreach,” Leatherwood mentioned in his letter.On the project route earlier this year, Trump and also Vice President-elect JD Vance shocked many evangelicals for softening their posture on abortion through stopping at calls for a federal government abortion restriction. Instead, Trump and Vance communicated in favor of states being the final adjudicator of abortion policy.The Integrity & Religious Freedom Commission has actually been energetic at the condition level to support tighter abortion regulations and sustains a government abortion ban.Despite disagreements over mindsets towards abortion, evangelicals overwhelmingly assisted Trump yet once more in the 2024 vote-casting. Individual affiliation and also other issues alongside abortion have increasingly animated conservative Christian support for Trump, featuring hopes for the united state High court to preserve its conservative majority in the lasting future.Related: How SBC public policy arm is actually managing factional disagreement after president’s near ousterLiam Adams covers religious beliefs for The Tennessean, part of the U.S.A.
TODAY Network. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on social media @liamsadams.