Southern Baptists Ask Trump to Target LGBTQ+ Protections, Abortion Access

The evangelical community came out big for Donald Trump in the election, showing up in droves to vote for him. Now one evangelical denomination is hoping to collect on their ballot-box investment.

In a recent letter to President-elect Trump, the head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) outlined five policies President-elect Trump should implement in his first 100 days in office, largely focusing on overturning discrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as implementing widespread restrictions on access to abortions.

What's in the Letter?

“This letter highlights five critical policy actions that reflect deeply held values for Southern Baptists and warrant the incoming administration’s immediate attention during President Trump’s first 100 days in office,” reads the letter, penned by Brent Leatherwood, president of the Southern Baptist Convention ERLC. 

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is one of the nation’s most prominent - and most evangelical - Christian denominations, and the ERLC is their highly influential policy wing. With some 13 million members, the SBC is the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, and the second largest Christian denomination overall (surpassed only by Catholics). 

They’re considered one of the most influential religious denominations in the realm of United States politics, and a number of current and former SBC leaders served on then-President  Trump’s Evangelical Advisory Board during his first term.

The letter, directed to the co-chairs of the Trump transition team Howard Lutnick and Linda McMahon, outlines their urgent requests for the President-elect.

LGBTQ+ Rights Targeted

In the letter, the SBC took aim at a number of LGBTQ+ legal protections. One of their primary requests for President-elect Trump is to revoke Executive Order 13988, an executive order signed by President Biden shortly after his inauguration which implements guidelines for federal agencies on how to expand antidiscrimination protections outlined in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity. 

This executive order “was specifically crafted to circumvent the religious beliefs and conscience protections of millions of Americans regarding gender and sexuality,” reads the SBC’s letter. “By undoing this harmful executive order, President Trump will reassure millions of Americans that they will not be targeted by the federal government simply for believing in biological realities or holding to their religious convictions.”

Additionally, the letter sought to remove discrimination protections for the LGBTQ+ community in everything from health care to foster care.

Abortion Restrictions

Abortion access was the other primary target of the letter. They requested that the President-elect “reverse the Biden FDA’s changes… That expanded the reach of the abortion pill [mifepristone] and threaten the health and safety of women.”

The abortion pill mifepristone is quickly becoming a major target for anti-abortion activists, given its widespread access and ease of use. In 2021, the FDA approved mifepristone for prescription via telehealth, and earlier this year it was approved for sale in retail pharmacies - two things the SBC would like to see overturned.

“We eagerly anticipate the day when the abortion pill is recognized for the evil it is and prohibited,” the SBC wrote. But until then, they say, extensive restriction to access will do. 

What do you think? Evangelicals were an indispensable part of President-elect Trump’s electoral victory earlier this month, and many view Trump as a defender of religious liberty. And it’s clear given their history that the Southern Baptist Convention has Trump’s ear when it comes to social issues.

What will happen?