Religious Versus LGBT Protections Roil Landmark Rights Measure

Democrats’ momentum to enact landmark LGBT civil rights legislation is facing headwinds from opponents who say the measure would limit federal religious protections.

Those objections will likely be raised at a Wednesday Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill. But some legal experts disagree with critics and say the measure wouldn’t completely wipe out religious rights of employers and other groups.

The Equality Act (H.R. 5), which the House passed along party lines last month, would amend the 1964 Civil Rights Act to enshrine protections for sexual orientation and gender identity. It would expand rights to public and ...