E.W. Jackson Launches Petition: Legalize Anti-Gay Discrimination Nationwide

Via press release today from Christian Newswire:

Bishop E.W. Jackson, Harvard educated Attorney, Minister and last year's Virginia Republican Nominee for Lt. Governor has launched a national movement to protect Christians from "growing hostility, discrimination and anti-Christian bigotry." As a first step, today Jackson officially launched the UNITY PETITION FOR RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL RIGHTS. This effort is inspired by increasing concern that pastors, churches and Christians who believe marriage is a union between one man and one woman, face violations of their First Amendment rights.

From the petition website:

We the undersigned, as citizens of the United States, hereby demand that Congress and the President pass legislation recognizing that under the First Amendment of the Constitution it is a violation of civil rights to fire Americans from their jobs, fine them in their businesses, restrict them from contracting with agencies of government, discipline them in their schools, or punish them in the military for peaceably expressing faith in Jesus Christ, the Biblical definition of marriage, the sacredness of life or any other article of faith; nor may the peaceful expression of such viewpoints ever be a cause for civil or criminal liability or prosecution as hate speech, bigotry or discrimination.