Democratic presidential hopeful Beto O’RourkeBeto O’RourkeBiden will help close out Texas Democrats’ virtual convention: report O’Rourke on Texas reopening: ‘Dangerous, dumb and weak’ Parties gear up for battle over Texas state House MORE said Thursday that religious institutions should lose their tax-exempt status if they oppose same-sex marriage.
“Do you think religious institutions like colleges, churches, charities, should they lose their tax-exempt status if they oppose same sex marriage?” CNN anchor Don LemonDon Carlton LemonCNN’s Lemon accuses Trump officials of ‘white-mansplaining’ on systemic racism Webb: The modern age of dissent versus riot Birdwatcher questions whether response to woman who called police on him was ‘proportionate’ MORE asked O’Rourke at the network’s Equality Townhall.
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“Yes,” the former Texas congressman responded. “There can be no reward, no benefit, no tax break, for anyone, or any institution, any organization in America that denies the full human rights and the full civil rights of every single one of us.”
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“As president, we’re going to make that a priority and we are going to stop those who are infringing upon the human rights of our fellow Americans,” he said.
The response is likely to receive pushback from certain religious groups, which have long opposed efforts to remove their tax-exempt status. Critics have said they oppose same-sex marriage due to their religious beliefs.
Sen. Cory BookerCory Anthony BookerRand Paul introduces bill to end no-knock warrants Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Harris grapples with defund the police movement amid veep talk MORE (D-N.J.) was asked the same question earlier at the town hall Thursday night, but declined to give a yes or no answer.
“I’m not saying, because I know this is a long legal battle. I’m not dodging your question. I’m saying I believe fundamentally that discrimination is discrimination,” Booker said.
“And if you are using your position to try to discriminate others, there must be consequences to that. And I will make sure to hold them accountable using the DOJ or whatever investigatory. You cannot discriminate,” he added.