Free Republic

House Democrats have passed the radical Equality Act once again, claiming it will merely amend federal civil rights law to ensure sexual orientation and gender identity are protected classes, even though the Constitution already provides protection for the rights of all American citizens, regardless of their “identity group.” If enacted, however, the Equality Act would have a major impact on children and their parents, potentially upending the culture as American families now know it. Lawsuits filed against Americans who adhere to the science of biological sex and the First Amendment rights of citizens would now have a federal law backing...

Joe Biden delivered remarks at the State Department on U.S. diplomacy and global challenges. He began his remarks by declaring “America is back, America is back. Diplomacy is back, at the center of our foreign policy,” and later speaking about rebuilding alliances that have “atrophied over the past few years of neglect, and I would argue abuse.” The president said he had spoken to President Putin of Russia, saying they have reached an agreement to preserve the START Treaty, and that the days of America “rolling over” to Russia are done, and that the United States “will not hesitate to...

Dealing with global warming will be painful, says one of the most powerful Democrats in Congress. To back up his claim he is proposing a recipe many people won't like — a 50-cent gasoline tax, a carbon tax and scaling back tax breaks for some home owners. "I'm trying to have everybody understand that this is going to cost and that it's going to have a measure of pain that you're not going to like," Rep. John Dingell, who is marking his 52nd year in Congress, said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. Dingell will offer a "discussion...

Bernalillo, New Mexico-AP -- A county clerk in New Mexico says it has nothing to do with "politics or morals." Sandoval County Clerk Victoria Dunlap says the county plans to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples. She made the decision after asking for an opinion from the county attorney, who said New Mexico law isn't clear on the issue. He also says refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples could open the county to legal action. State law defines marriage as a civil contract between contracting parties. It doesn't mention gender. The issue of gay marriage has stirred controversy...