A new rule proposed by President Trump’s administration would allow businesses that receive federal contracts to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals according to employers’ religious beliefs, critics say.

According to the Department of Labor, the role of the proposal, which was announced Wednesday, is to “clarify the scope and application of the religious exemption.”

It’s “intended to clarify the longstanding civil rights protections afforded to religious organizations that contract with the federal government,” one official said, according to Bloomberg Law. “The proposal would ensure the “religious protections are given the same federal recognition as all other civil rights.”

But critics say that the rule would essentially let federal contractors use religious objection excuses as a defense for discriminating against workers on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity and other characteristics, such as sex, race, color, ethnicity or national origin.

The 46-page proposal “would allow federal contractors to apply for broad exemptions to civil rights law after engaging in discriminatory behavior,” The National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) said in a statement.

That behavior includes “firing or refusing to hire someone because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It could also lead to federal contractors refusing to hire women or unmarried workers who are pregnant or parents, or even discrimination on the basis of race,” the statement continued.

26 PHOTOSStars celebrate Pride 2019See GalleryStars celebrate Pride 2019How you doin’, New York? ? I’m blown away by the energy and the love in this city right now!Happy World Pride! #lgbtqia #worldprideday #lgbtally #itsamarchnotaparade #pride #pridemonth #pride2019 #nycprideHappy Pride Y’all! ? #family #ally #worldpridenycI couldn’t be more proud of every single person in that crowd and around the world today. This community inspires me so much. Your courage, your bravery, your relentless pursuit of kindness. Celebrate yourselves today, and hopefully every day. I love you. #PRIDE ? @gr8images @gettyentertainmentA transcendent day today!! There was love everywhere! ♥️?️‍?♥️?️‍? and our float was like a Fellini movie.HAPPY PRIDE! (?: @charlessykes)

"Pose" actresses and Pride Parade grand marshals MJ Rodriquez, Indya Moore and Dominique Jackson rode on a BMW M850i Convertible wrapped in a custom pride design by Jonathan Adler during WorldPride NYC on Sunday.

(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

MY BOYS ❤️

Madame ❌ is a spy in the House of NYC……………. WERKBITCHES…………. ??#nyc #worldpridenyc #stonewall50 #madamex?️‍???️‍???️‍???️‍??

MARINA performed a the inaugural Love Above All Ball benefiting the Born This Way Foundation at the Rainbow Room on Friday night.

(Credit: BFA)

We have to consciously study how to be tender with each other until it becomes a habit ?- #audrelorde

HAPPY FUCKING PRIDE!!!! from me and my fave straight!

Olympian Gun Kenworthy did a meet-and-greet at the Barfoot Wine & Bubby activation on Pride Island.

(Credit: Courtesy of Barefoot)

#ad Judges Your Scores: The #LOVEYOURSELF @KetelOne_US ? = ???? across the board. Cheers to the family we make, the love we spread, and the acceptance we continue to fight for… oh and all while looking FIERCE doing it. Who’s with me? ? by: @christiantorresphotoWearing Custom @csiriano Style by @sammyratelle Glam by @lasonyagunter #ketelonefamilymadevodka #familymade #ketelone #acceptanceforall

Yes God #worldpride2019

Christian Siriano and Alicia Solo attended Ketel One Family-Made Vodka and The Misshapes’ Pride Oasis Pool Party benefiting the Hetrick-Martin Institute at the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday.

(Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Ketel One Family-Made Vodka)

About to kick off World Pride Parade ?️‍? @1035ktu float #worldpridenyc Fab rainbow coat by @adriennelandau ?? @saulovillela

Sir Richard Branson visited The Stonewall Inn to celebrate Pride and the announcement of Virgin Voyages LGBTQ+ charter with Atlantis Events on Saturday in New York City.

(Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Virgin Voyages)

Betty Who performed a the inaugural Love Above All Ball benefiting the Born This Way Foundation at the Rainbow Room on Friday night.

(Credit: BFA)

“13 Reasons Why” actor Tommy Dorfman attended WorldPride in partnership with AXE to support the Anti-Violence program.(Credit: Unilever)

Parade Begins! WOW! HAPPY PRIDE!

Ready for the march!! #NYCPride #pride

Nico Tortorella and #AerieREAL Role Model Samira Wiley attended a Pride celebration at American Eagle’s Be You Studio on June 29, 2019 in New York City.

(Photo by Gonzalo Marroquin/Getty Images for Aerie)

NYC drag queen Rosé partnered with Trojan Condoms to celebrate all shapes and sizes with the brand’s Conecocktions Ice Cream Truck, empowering guys to take #PrideinMine, at the NYC WorldPride March on June 30, 2019, in New York City.

(Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Trojan)

Happy #PRIDE my friends! I know that some people reading this will have endured a lot of pain and struggle in their life purely for the freedom to be themselves. I’m full of respect and admiration for you, because it takes a type of bravery most of us may never have to summon. To have the courage to risk rejection from a family, community or society in order to be yourself – it’s soul damaging at the deepest level and it changes you irrevocably. We love you. Wherever you are in the world, there’s a global family out there just waiting for you!✨.Special thanks to @olimastudio for the custom fit, @mercedesnatalia for next level styling, @alanawrightmakeup for makeup + @ivainsane for hair. Photos by @dxprutting #LoveAboveAllBall

LOVE always come first. ……………. Happy PRide!!! ???????? #whoa #worldpridenyc #stonewall50 #davidbanda #mercyjames

Thx 4 having me @nycpride ??? ? @leggomymeggoz

Kim wore all Judith Leiber Jewelry for her 2019 Pride Island Concert in NYC.

@itgetsbetter with @morphebrushes @americaneagle @thesims @thestandard #prideonthehorizon What colors represents you? Mine is always red!!! Comment below!

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With the new rule, businesses that claim a “religious purpose” can benefit from the protection. However, the proposal expands on the meaning of a religious corporation: “The contractor must be organized for a religious purpose, meaning that it was conceived with a self-identified religious purpose. This need not be the contractor’s only purpose.”

The proposal wants to make clear that “religious exemption covers not just churches but employers that are organized for a religious purpose, hold themselves out to the public as carrying out a religious purpose, and engage in exercise of religion consistent with, and in furtherance of, a religious purpose.”

The proposed rule frustrates human rights advocates, who see it as the latest move by Trump to undermine the rights of LGBTQ individuals in the name of religious freedom.

“Once again, the Trump administration is shamefully working to license taxpayer-funded discrimination in the name of religion. Nearly one-quarter of the employees in the U.S. work for an employer that has a contract with the federal government,” Ian Thompson, senior legislative counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), said in a statement. “We will work to stop this rule that seeks to undermine our civil rights protections and encourages discrimination in the workplace.”

Mara Keisling, NCTE’s founder executive director echoed that message. “Religious freedom must be a shield to protect the marginalized, not a sword to attack them. There are few values more sacred to the equality of all in this nation than the belief that nobody should be judged by an employer because of who they are or who they love, yet this administration continually seeks to undermine that value,” she said.

“Whether it’s our right to health care, our right to housing, or our right to equal employment, we are committed to fighting every action this administration takes against us,” added Keisling.

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