AZ Republican voted against coronavirus relief bill because it gives gay parents sick leave

Arizona GOP Congressman Andy Biggs gave an interview to the Family Research Council (FRC) this Monday, saying that he voted against the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) on Saturday because it included protections for domestic partnerships, including same-sex relationships. Biggs was one of 40 Republicans who voted against the measure.

According to the bill, the term “domestic partner,” with respect to an individual, means another individual with whom the individual is in a “committed relationship.”

“The term ‘committed relationship’ means a relationship between 2 individuals, each at least 18 years of age, in which each individual is the other individual’s sole domestic partner and both individuals share responsibility for a significant measure of each other’s common welfare,” the bill reads. “The term includes any such relationship between 2 individuals that is granted legal recognition by a State or political subdivision of a State as a marriage or analogous relationship, including a civil union or domestic partnership.”

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According to Biggs, the bill’s definitions were an attempt to redefine the meaning of “family.”

“They’ve redefined family for the first time in a piece of federal legislation to include committed relationships,” he said. “The problem with that, of course, is it’s really hard to define a committed relationship and it’s really hard to define anything related to that and so they’ve tried to—they’ve put in, in my opinion—sort of an amorphous definition. But that leaves it wide open and then they expand it, expand on that.”

Biggs is known for holding anti-LGBT sentiments and has been linked to groups that oppose same-sex marriage.

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Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.