The “gay lobby” has tried it before. But now that marriage is officially a grand social experiment in our nation, homosexual activists have moved on, updating and re-launching the next weapon of revolution. And it’s a whopper, one that potentially unites homosexual advocates with defenders of Planned Parenthood.

Their enemy? Christians, conservatives and all who are pro-life and pro-family.

The unjust and unequal “Equality Act” was introduced in Congress as H.R. 3185 and S. 1858 just before summer recess. This legislation jumps way beyond any previous anti-discrimination bill and would essentially wipe out free speech and religious liberty on the issues of homosexuality and gender change by declaring these behaviors to be civil rights in America.

Religious freedom restoration acts are declared to be powerless under this bill. Other religious exemptions are very weak and sure to be challenged as the gaystapo deploys armies of lawyers to undermine the Constitution. The 14th Amendment “equal protection” clause can justify investigations by the attorney general of suspected violations.

But the picture gets worse. This bill adds not just “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to civil rights law, but the category of “sex.” The bill says:

“Discrimination can occur on the basis of the sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition of an individual, as well as because of sex-based stereotypes. Each of these factors alone can serve as the basis for discrimination, and each is a form of sex discrimination.”

Do you see where this is going? This language seems to allow claims of discrimination against a multitude of pro-life efforts. Crisis pregnancy centers may be sued to change the services offered or the messages conveyed.

The “Equality Act” may be deployed in lawsuits to overturn laws restricting abortion. Prospective clinic patients may claim discrimination on the basis of sex if Planned Parenthood is defunded.

The House bill has 168 co-sponsors as I write this, with 39 in the Senate. All so far are Democrats and independents. Microsoft, Apple, Google and other companies have pledged support for this anti-Christian, anti-American bill, so Republicans may start taking heat from Wall Street to back this unconstitutional power grab.

This measure covers not just employment, but housing, public accommodations and education. Those local “bathroom” bills in Houston and in schools like Gloucester County, Virginia, along with local controversies about school homosexual clubs would be instantly resolved to affirm sexual deviancy, because all bathrooms, locker rooms and “sex-segregated facilities” must be open to anyone based on “gender identity.”

And the Equality Act would open the door to proudly gender-bending people in our armed forces.

We must ask every presidential candidate: “As president, will you pledge to veto the anti-family ‘Equality Act’?” Yes, GOP majorities occupy both chambers, but that is little comfort, seeing how easily a “conservative” like Gov. Mike Pence in Indiana caved on religious freedom under corporate pressure.

This version may die at the end of the 114th Congress, but it won’t go away. The Human Rights Campaign, the pro-abortion lobby and leftist politicians will bring it back in the 115th, so we need to know where GOP candidates stand.

If you support life, you cannot support this bill.

If you support natural marriage, you cannot support this bill.

If you support de-funding Planned Parenthood, you cannot support this bill.

If you support religious liberty – or say you do – you cannot support the “Equality Act.”

It kills religious liberty. And an amendment won’t fix it, Ohio Sen. Rob Portman. Offering a stronger religious exemption may be among his plans as he considers support for S. 1858.

Right away, I see problems for Chris Christie, a consistent supporter of “gay rights” in New Jersey. He signed a ban on “conversion therapy” for minors and even called for an investigation of teacher Viki Knox, fired for her biblically based sexuality views. Jeb Bush and John Kasich both have outspoken pro-homosexual advisers in key slots in their campaigns.

The sexual anarchy lobby has a talking point ready for their denial of religious freedom. “Being Christian doesn’t give you the right to discriminate!” A homosexual advocate just sent me a piece from the Detroit News with this headline, in fact. Those who are well-informed will immediately recognize the rhetorical trickery being used.

“LGBT” pressure groups do not dictate Christian doctrine, first of all. Our Almighty God has already done that. And they define “discrimination” as any opinion they don’t like, even if the view is based on reality. Homosexuality is not inborn – it’s not like race – and the behavior is harmful to individuals and societies. These identities and attractions do not characterize separate types of “persons” (as the Obergefell majority ruling incorrectly assumed). So they are not defensible under the 14th Amendment.

As I wrote in a column a few months ago, the left is moving toward the position of telling us what to believe. Christianity is now a target to be obliterated or revised with homosexuality no longer a sin, humans no longer distinctly male and female, abortion a “right” for females and believers painted into a narrow doctrinal corner if we let them do this.

We must not let them do this. This bill should be Priority No. 1 to defeat this year, next year and as long as it takes. Everyone needs to make it clear to congressional representatives that this fascist attempt to dismantle the First Amendment, to defy parental authority and to drive Christians out of jobs simply cannot happen.

The authority to silence believers that the “Equality Act” would provide Christ’s enemies would leap beyond homosexuality and gender confusion. It’s tyranny, and only we the people rising up and saying NO will stop this. The so-called “Equality Act” is not about equality – we already have that. It’s about calling evil good, calling sin a right, and about punishing and silencing the voices of morality and faith.