Duggar Begs For Cash to Jump Start Anti-Gay Law

In the wake of oral arguments in front of the U.S. Supreme Court this week, which could settle the issue of marriage equality nationwide, reality TV star Josh Duggar is calling on followers of the Southern Poverty Law Center designated anti-gay hate group Family Research Council (FRC) to dig into their wallets to help enact a stalled piece of anti-gay legislation masked as a "religious freedom" law.

"There has been a growing hostility towards Christians who believe that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman," Duggar writes. "This is why, no matter which way the Supreme Court rules, we must pass the Marriage and Religious Freedom Act (MARFA)."

Duggar's email then goes on to solicit donations to FRC Action, the hate group's legislative and lobbying arm.

"The hearing is over but please continue to pray for wisdom for the Supreme Court Justices as they evaluate and deliberate on this case," Duggar said. "We are expecting their decision to be handed down by June. But however they rule, it is important for people of faith across the country that the Marriage and Religions Freedom Act be passed. Please give to help us in this effort."

MARFA was introduced into congress by Idaho Republican Raul Labrador under the auspices of "protect(ing) freedom of conscience for those who believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman."�It remains stalled in committee.

The Human Rights Campaign notes that if passed, MARFA would permit a federal worker processing tax returns, approving visa applications or reviewing Social Security applications to walk away from his or her responsibilities whenever a same-sex couple's paperwork appeared on his or her desk.�It would also allow a federally-funded homeless shelter or substance abuse treatment program to turn away LGBT people.��

"Every American understands the importance of protecting the rights of people of faith to hold and express their beliefs, including about the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," HRC Legislative Director Allison Herwitt said of the bill in 2013.�"But our Constitution and laws already strongly safeguard that liberty.� The purpose of the legislation introduced today is simply to let federal employees, contractors and grantees refuse to do their jobs or fulfill the terms of their taxpayer-funded contracts because they have a particular religious view about certain lawfully-married couples - and then to sue the federal government for damages if they don't get their way."

In October 2014, Gay Salt Lake reported MARFA's author, Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee was among 19 members of congress that included Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and former Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), who were inducted into the inaugural class of HRC's "Hall of Shame."

A former used-car salesman with a home-schooled high school education, Duggar currently serves as executive director of Family Research Council Action. His thin CV led many to believe that the FRC created the new position for him so that they could cash in on his name recognition from the TLC reality series "19 Kids and Counting."