Catholic Bishops: Stop Biden-Backed Equality Act That Will ‘Force Girls…to Share…Shower Spaces With Biological Males’

(CNSNews.com) – The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is asking Americans to contact their congressional representatives and tell them to vote no on the “Equality Act” that is being promoted by President Joe Biden.

“The Equality Act discriminates against people of faith and threatens unborn life. Tell Congress to oppose it!” says a page on the USCCB website.

The act was re-introduced into the current Congress this week by its primary sponsor, Rep. David Cicilline.

“The Equality Act would…force girls and women to compete against boys and men for limited opportunities in sports, and to share locker rooms and shower spaces with biological males who identify as women,” the USCCB explains on that page.

Here is the full text of the statement on the Equality Act on the USCCB website:

“Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. The Equality Act, which is being voted on in the U.S. House of Representatives soon, in many ways does the opposite and needs to be opposed. Instead of respecting differences in beliefs about marriage and sexuality, the Equality Act would discriminate against people of faith. The Equality Act would: punish faith-based organizations, such as charities and schools who serve everyone in their communities, simply because of their beliefs; force girls and women to compete against boys and men for limited opportunities in sports, and to share locker rooms and shower spaces with biological males who identify as women; risk mandating taxpayers to fund abortions; force people in everyday life, and especially health care workers, to support gender transition; and expand what the government considers a “public” place, forcing even some parish halls to host functions that conflict with Catholic beliefs.”

During his presidential run, Biden posted a statement on his campaign website that said he would:

“Ensure young LGBTQ+ people are supported and protected in our schools and college campuses by: Guaranteeing transgender students have access to facilities based on their gender identity. On his first day in office, Biden will reinstate the Obama-Biden guidance revoked by the Trump-Pence Administration, which will restore transgender students’ access to sports, bathrooms, and locker rooms in accordance with their gender identity. He will direct his Department of Education to vigorously enforce and investigate violations of transgender students’ civil rights.”

On Friday, President Biden released a statement fully backing the Equality Act that Cicilline had introduced in the House:

“I applaud Congressman David Cicilline and the entire Congressional Equality Caucus for introducing the Equality Act in the House of Representatives yesterday, and I urge Congress to swiftly pass this historic legislation,” Biden said.

“On my first day in office, I was proud to sign an Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation,” Biden said. “I directed agencies to implement the Supreme Court’s Bostock ruling, and fully enforce Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. Now, it’s time for Congress to secure these protections once and for all by passing the Equality Act — because no one should ever face discrimination or live in fear because of who they are or whom they love.”