Georgia

Opposition To Georgia’s Anti-LGBTQ Adoption Bill SB 375 Is Growing

Opposition is growing since the Georgia Senate passed SB 375, a harmful bill that would allow government-funded adoption and foster care agencies to use religion to discriminate against kids in their care and prospective parents.

Denied Opportunity To Become Foster Parents, LGBTQ Couple Sues Government For Using Religion As An Excuse To Discriminate

Religious freedom is about fairness. It’s not fair to put the religious beliefs of government-funded service providers above the best interests of children in foster care.

Georgia Adoption Bill Harms Children In The Name Of ‘Religious Freedom'

In Georgia, there are more than 14,000 children in foster care. Tomorrow morning at 8:00am, legislators there will debate a bill that would make it even harder for these children to find safe, stable, and loving homes.

Georgia GOP Committee To Debate Resolution Urging Gubernatorial Candidates To Support "Religious Freedom" Legislation

Some Georgia Republican party activists have not given up on passing “religious freedom” legislation that could use religion to justify discrimination and deny rights and access to healthcare to others.

A Focus On: Georgia's Dangerous Adoption Bill

After the backlash Georgia faced last year when the legislature attempted to allow taxpayer-funded discrimination, it’s surprising that the state senate is willing to go down this road again. And even shocking that they made the target of discrimination youth who need adoptive and foster homes and the parents who want open their hearts to them.

Georgia Governor Vows To Veto Newly Introduced "Religious Freedom" Bill

On Tuesday, February 21, 20 Republican Georgia state senators dropped SB 233, a bill many are calling this year’s “religious freedom” bill. By Thursday, however, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal had already vowed to veto it. This is no real surprise considering Governor Deal vetoed a similar bill last year after it evoked large-scale opposition across the state and the country as well as threats of boycotts.

The State Legislatures Are Back In Session And We’re Ready!

Right now, state lawmakers are trying to use religion as an excuse to discriminate, but we're ready to fight back! Our 2017 State Legislation Tracker is your one-stop-shop for news, resources and most importantly, how you can make a difference.

PTN Looks Back On The Five Biggest Religious Freedom Stories Of 2016

As 2016 comes to an end, we’re looking back at the biggest religious freedom stories of the past year. 

Metro Atlanta Chamber Announces Intent To Oppose All Georgia's Harmful "Religious Freedom" Bills In 2017

The Metro Atlanta Chamber promised to fight any harmful "religious freedom" bills introduced in the Georgia legislature, saying: “We are not supportive of any bill that in any way would discriminate against any person.”

Still More Trouble For North Carolina As Another Athletic Association Pulls Championships From The State

It's been less than a month since the NCAA and ACC moved their championships out of North Carolina due to HB2, a law that sanctions discrimination against transgender people, and the state is taking another hit.

Congress Should Learn From FADA Backlash In The States

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform announced that it will hold a hearing on HR 2802, the deceptively named First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), on July 12. The Committee’s decision to hold this hearing is surprising given the backlash that states have faced when trying to pass and enact their own FADA legislation

Legislative Blowback: One Year Later, States Are Trying To Undermine The Marriage Equality Ruling

Yesterday we celebrated the one-year anniversary of Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court decision that made marriage equality the law of the landToday we want to remind you that there’s still much work to do.

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Of The 2016 State Sessions, Part 1: The Good

Over the next two days, we will be reviewing the good, the bad, and the ugly of the 2016 state sessions. Today’s post will cover the good— harmful bills that were stopped. 

Americans United Legislative Director To Be Honored At Georgia Equality Award Ceremony

We are pleased to share some good news from our friends at Georgia Equality! On June 18, Americans United's Legislative Director Maggie Garrett will receive the group’s Allen Thornell Political Advancement Award during an “Evening for Equality” event in Atlanta.

Seven Signs Of The Persecution Apocalypse?: Religious Right Ally Claims Rampant Mistreatment Of Christians

It must be the End Times for American Christians – at least that’s what a Religious Right “scholar” would have you believe

Georgia's Governor Does Not Regret Decision To Veto "Religious Liberty" Bill

In his first interview since vetoing Georgia's HB 757 in March, Governor Nathan Deal said he does not regret his decision, and that the uproar over recent bills in North Carolina and Mississippi should give legislators seeking to pass "religious liberty" bills second thoughts. Had it been signed, HB 757, the Georgia “religious liberty” bill, would have permitted discrimination like the bills in these other states.

Businesses A Powerful Force In The Fight Against "Religious Freedom" Bills

This week, businesses across the country are taking a stand against discrimination.