Mississippi’s discriminatory House Bill 1523 is expected to go into effect today, despite ongoing legal efforts to strike it down.
AU Supports Mississippians Challenging Discriminatory HB 1523, A So-called “Religious Freedom” Law
Anti-LGBTQ State First Amendment Defense Acts Are Back In 2017
As state legislators return to work this month, we’re monitoring newly introduced “religious freedom” bills around the country that could harm our neighbors. As a refresher, we thought we would review the different types of “religious freedom” legislation we expect to see. First up, First Amendment Defense Acts.
Sanderson Farms And Other Companies Are Opposing Harmful Mississippi Law In Court
PTN Looks Back On The Five Biggest Religious Freedom Stories Of 2016
Americans United Joins The Fight In Court Against Mississippi's "Religious Freedom" Law
On Friday, we joined an amicus brief opposing HB 1523 because it uses religion as an excuse to sanction discrimination. Religious freedom is a fundamental American value— it guarantees us the freedom to believe or not as we see fit. What it does not do, though, is grant anyone a right to harm others.
Mississippi Governor And Religious Right Group Fighting To Enforce "Religious Liberty" Law
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.
Discrimination Defeated!: A Miss. Law That Used ‘Religious Freedom’ To Undermine Rights Is Struck Down
A Mississippi law that purported to defend “religious freedom” by allowing state officials and others to discriminate against LGBT residents was scheduled to go into effect today. That won’t be happening, thanks to a federal court ruling.
District Judge Grants Preliminary Injunction Barring Mississippi's "Religious Liberty" Law
Federal Judge: Obergefell Will Be Enforced In Mississippi
Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves blocked a key provision of Mississippi’s HB 1523 that was scheduled to take effect this Friday. The new law—which Americans United has opposed since its introduction in February—would create sweeping religious exemptions for those who object to marriage equality, including county clerks who refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
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 land. Today we want to remind you that there’s still much work to do.
Federal Court Refuses To Halt Enforcement of Mississippi's "Religious Liberty" Bill
A federal court in Mississippi has refused to halt enforcement of HB 1523, the Mississippi law passed in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s upholding marriage equality last year. The bill is apparently the brainchild of a Religious Right organization that has litigated denial-of-service cases across the country.
The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Of The 2016 State Sessions, Part 2: The Bad And The Ugly
In part 1, we recapped the good— the harmful bills that were stopped. In today’s post, we cover the bad and the ugly of the 2016 state legislative sessions.
Third Lawsuit Filed Against Mississippi's Governor Bryant Over "Religious Liberty" Law
It's been over two months since Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed the state's overly broad "religious liberty" bill into law, but neither he nor the bill has been able to rest easy.
Mississippi Joins Multi-State Anti-LGBT Lawsuit Against The Federal Government [Updated]
Yesterday Mississippi announced that it would be joining 11 other states in their lawsuit against the Obama administration after it reminded states that federal law prohibits schools from discriminating against transgender students in public schools.
Last Week In Review: April 18–22
United Methodist Church Ministers Condemn Mississippi's Anti-LGBT Law
Over 30 ministers of the United Methodist Church's Mississippi Annual Conference released a statement on Monday condemning Mississippi's HB 1523 and legislation that legalizes discrimination in the name of religion.
President Obama Condemns Discriminatory Bills
U.S. Commission On Civil Rights Condemns "Religious Liberty" Bills
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights has weighed in on the bills we’ve been working on at PTN. In a statement released on Monday, the agency condemned state laws and pending legislation that sanction discrimination, especially against LGBT Americans, under the guise of religious liberty.