House GOP urges Trump to remove ‘inappropriate and insulting’ protections for LGBTQ workers in new trade pact

'It May Endanger the Passage of the Trade Agreement Unless Something Is Done'

Dozens of anti-LGBT House Republican lawmakers are urging President Donald Trump to remove protections for LGBTQ workers from his new USMCA trade pact.

Calling the protections – included by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – "inappropriate and insulting," the Republicans say they are "deeply concerned" by the language in the NAFTA-replacement agreement, Politico reports.

The 38 Republicans who have signed the Friday letter say a trade pact "is no place for the adoption of social policy" on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI).

If the language protecting LGBTQ workers from discrimination is not pulled before the slated November 30 signing, at least one Republican Congressman says it may kill the deal.

"This is language that is going to cause a lot of people to reconsider their support of the trade agreement, and to the point that it may endanger the passage of the trade agreement unless something is done," Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) told Politico.

The letter claims Trump signing the trade agreement could effectively codify into law President Barack Obama's executive orders protecting LGBT workers, and ban him from rescinding them.

Among the letter's signatories are white nationalist Rep. Steve King (R-IA), Freedom Caucus chair Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), and Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), who earlier this year tried to pass a bill that would allow taxpayer funded adoption agencies to ban same-sex couples.