The attorney general’s memo claiming that religious freedom is a license to discriminate is breathtaking in its scope
SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 6, 2017) — City Attorney Dennis Herrera made the following statement regarding U.S. Attorney General Jefferson Sessions’ memo released today on “religious liberty”:
“The Sessions-led Justice Department has shown, once again, that it wishes to deny civil rights protections rather than enforce them. The attorney general’s memo claiming that religious freedom is a license to discriminate is breathtaking in its scope. It would allow individuals, corporations and even the federal government to discriminate against the LGBTQ community and prevent women from making their own choices about healthcare. Religious freedom does not provide a license to discriminate. Pretending that it does is simply un-American. There is nothing pious or caring about treating your neighbor, customer or employee like a second-class citizen. I denounce this attack by the U.S. attorney general on the civil rights of vulnerable individuals and communities, and I will continue to work to further equality. The march to protect the civil rights of all Americans, including the LGBTQ community, has been a long one, and it will continue.”
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