.Brent Leatherwood, president of the SBC’s Integrity & Religious Right Compensation, which is the church’s public policy arm, takes purpose at LGBTQ+ defenses, abortion get access to in priorities request.Leatherwood letter shows positive outlook among christian Religious for Trump’s second phrase, in spite of after effects earlier on campaign path over GOP softening position on abortion.In addition to proceeded proposal for abortion limitations, Leatherwood letter to Trump signals evangelicals hopes for turning around LGBTQ+ antidiscrimination protections.In a marker of christian Religious’ anticipate President-elect Donald Trump’s 2nd phrase, Southern Baptist Custom public policy forerunners talked to the incoming administration to prioritize limiting abortion and also turning around antidiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people.Despite evangelicals’ disappointment along with Trump on the campaign path for easing his posture versus abortion, a character from the SBC’s Integrity & Religious Freedom Payment to Trump’s transition group conveys a renewed optimism for traditional policy settings on significant social issues.The letter lays out a series of plan priorities for the Trump management to look at in its own initial one hundred days: limiting access as well as backing for abortion suppliers and also the abortion pill, reversing a manager purchase provided through President Joe Biden with support to federal agencies on antidiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ folks, and turning around other government rules under Biden defending LGBTQ+ civil rights.” President Trump will definitely reassure countless Americans that they are going to not be actually targeted due to the federal authorities merely for relying on organic realities or even upholding their theological principles,” Brent Leatherwood, president of the Ethics & Religious Right Percentage, stated in a Nov. 11 letter to Trump change staff co-chairs Howard Lutnick as well as Linda McMahon.Leatherwood’s recommendation to the targeting of theological sentiments on gender is a feedback to a Biden management manager order titled “Stopping and Combating Bias on the Manner of Sex Identification or even Sexual Orientation,” a compendium of guidelines for government firms on executing antidiscrimination securities for LGBTQ+ people.Similarly, Leatherwood kept in mind various other policies permitted under the Biden administration due to the USA Department of Wellness and Person Providers and also United State Department of Education and learning forbiding discrimination against LGBTQ+ folks in health plan, student financial aid and foster care.The Integrity & Religious Freedom Commission has actually long been most energetic in supporting for abortion limitations, though it is actually often active in opposing LGBTQ+ civil liberties. Recently, the general public policy branch filed an amicus short with the USA High court in support of Tennessee’s gender-affirming care ban.Leatherwood likewise asked Trump to prioritize other abortion-related items, consisting of reversing enhanced access to mifepristone.
On top of that, he inquired the Trump administration to restore plans that disallow abortion care companies from acquiring federal financing.” Head of state Trump are going to welcome a revived concentrate on guarding lifestyle as well as the deeply-held faiths of taxpayers coming from authorities overreach,” Leatherwood stated in his letter.On the project path previously this year, Trump and Bad Habit President-elect JD Vance outraged lots of evangelicals for relaxing their posture on abortion by balking at ask for a federal government abortion restriction. Rather, Trump and also Vance talked in support of conditions being actually the last moderator of abortion policy.The Ethics & Religious Freedom Commission has been active at the condition level to sustain tighter abortion regulations and supports a federal abortion ban.Despite disagreements over mindsets toward abortion, evangelicals overwhelmingly assisted Trump yet once again in the 2024 election. Group affiliation and various other problems close to abortion have significantly animated conservative Christian help for Trump, featuring wish for the USA Supreme Court to preserve its own conservative large number in the lasting future.Related: Just how SBC public law upper arm is handling factional dispute after head of state’s near ousterLiam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY System.
Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or even on social media @liamsadams.