February 26, 2021

US House Passes "Equality Act," which would Expand Abortion and Remove Conscience Protections

photo credit: John Brighenti / Flickr
On Thursday afternoon, the US House of Representatives voted 224-206 (largely along party lines) to approve H.R. 5, otherwise known as the Equality Act. This legislation would write transgenderism into civil rights law, compel medical professionals to participate in abortions and transgender surgeries, and expand taxpayer-funding of abortion.

The legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by defining "sex" to include “pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition.” It is known that abortion is considered to be a "related medical condition" for the sake of this legislation.

The "Equality Act" reads that “pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition shall not receive less favorable treatment than other physical conditions,” and would add “establishments that provide health care” to the list of covered “public accommodations.”

Jennifer Popik, director of federal legislation for the National Right to Life Committee, said, “If enacted, H.R. 5 would open the door for widespread litigation wherein any attempt to restrict abortion, including the funding of abortion, would constitute discrimination.”

Provisions in H.R. 5 also override moral and religious conscience protections physicians have to object to abortions and gender transitioning procedures.

“Forcing health care providers to perform abortions in violation of their conscience rights clearly violates the Constitution,” said NRLC President Carol Tobias. “But pro-abortion forces and their allies in Congress are more concerned about expanding access to abortion.”

All House Democrats voted in favor of the bill, along with three Republicans. Those three representatives are Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Rep. John Katko of New York, and Rep. Tom Reed of New York.

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