Respond to the following peer discussion 1

“Human Resources Management in Nonprofit Organizations”

Debate It:

First: Review Chapter 3: Generational Differences and the Public Sector Workforce and Chapter 6: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Employees in the Public Sector Workforce.

Second: Take a position for or against this statement: religious organizations have a right to be exempt from federal guidelines regarding the employment of lesbians, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people.

I take the position against the LGBTQ population having a leadership position in a religious nonprofit organization but I’m not opposed to them being employed, or engaged as long as they aren’t seeking to violate the organization’s charter. This position is based on my upbringing in the Christian faith which teaches same-sex (married or not) is an abomination to God. In reviewing the chapter on generational differences in the public sector, it was noted that the older generation – the baby boomers, of which I identity with – are less likely to accept the LGBTQ people whereas the generations X and Y are more tolerant, and would accept.

Regarding the LGBTQ being exempt from federal guidelines, I say because of employment laws that protect the LGBTQ people, a religious nonprofit should not discriminate against them. Nonprofits are not exempt from the obeying the law. According to LGBTQ legal protections, religious nonprofits would suffer consequences of being sued, or losing eligibility for federal grants such as financing feeding centers and shelters for the homeless. There is a case where a government official went to jail for breaking the law (Blinder & Lewin, 2015). Some laws to be familiar with are: Employment Non-Discrimination Act (1995), Hate Crimes Act; Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (1964 & 1991); and Affirmative Action Act (1970).

In the news recently, a CNN reporter (Killough, 2018), tells that Sen. Mike Lee (R, Utah) reintroduced a bill which is a new version of the “First Amendment Defense Act,” that seeks to protect individuals and institutions from punitive action by the government — such as revoking tax exempt status or withholding federal grants or benefits — for believing that marriage is between one man and one woman and for opposing sex outside of marriage. Backers of the bill, however, argue it would only protect government employees who hold their views in a private manner, not if they act on them in their official capacity. I would be one to vote yes to make it law.

References:

Blinder, A., & Lewin, T. (2015, September 3). Clerk in Kentucky Chooses Jail Over Deal on Same-Sex Marriage. Retrieved from New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/04/us/kim-davis-sa…

Killough, A. (2018, March 9). Sen. Mike Lee reintroduces religious freedom bill, LGBTQ groups cry discrimination. Retrieved from CNN Politics: https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/09/politics/first-amen…