SE North Carolina News

Washington, D.C. – Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) and 10 other U.S. Senators have called on Secretary of State Antony Blinken to rescind the State Department's latest guidance on gender pronouns. The Senators argue that the guidance infringes upon the First Amendment rights of State Department employees and violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

In their letter, the Senators assert that the State Department's guidance, titled "Updated Department Guidance Regarding Transgender Employees in the Workplace," is potentially illegal. They argue that it "infringes upon the First Amendment rights of State Department employees, as recognized by the Supreme Court, to speak openly on matters of public concern." The Senators also contend that the guidance violates the RFRA by forcing employees to choose between disciplinary action and compliance.

The letter, signed by Senator Budd and his colleagues, including Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Josh Hawley (R-MO), emphasizes the constitutional concerns raised by the guidance. It states, "This Guidance infringes upon the First Amendment rights of State Department employees, as recognized by the Supreme Court, to speak openly on matters of public concern and to be free from government-compelled speech, including government-compelled affirmation of contested political, social, and religious ideas."

The Senators argue that the guidance creates a hostile work environment for dissenting employees who cannot comply with it due to their religious beliefs. They cite the RFRA as evidence that the guidance violates religious liberty, stating, "By forcing employees to choose between facing disciplinary action and complying with this Guidance, the Guidance violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act."

The letter also criticizes the State Department for adopting the policy change without public scrutiny, stating, "Such a major policy change, which threatens severe consequences against State Department employees for noncompliance, deserves rigorous, public scrutiny."

The Senators call on Secretary Blinken to adhere to his oath to uphold the Constitution and federal law by rescinding the guidance. They remind him of his commitment to welcoming dissent and protecting religious liberty within the State Department.

In conclusion, the Senators request written responses from Secretary Blinken addressing various aspects of the guidance, including its legal authority, exceptions to the policy, the process for seeking exceptions, and the potential impact on employment decisions.

Senator Ted Budd and his colleagues have taken a stand against the State Department's guidance on gender pronouns. They argue that the guidance infringes upon the First Amendment rights of employees and violates religious freedom. The Senators have called on Secretary Blinken to rescind the guidance and provide further clarification on its legal authority and potential impact on employees.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.budd.senate.gov/2023/10/23/budd-leads-colleagues-to-demand-state-department-rescind-pronoun-mandate/