Legal Lesson: Texas Lt. Gov. Is Clueless About American History And The First Amendment
Civil Rights Advocates To Face Tough Times In State Legislatures
Barrier Method?
U.S. Supreme Court To Hear New Group Of Cases That Could Further Limit Americans' Access To Reproductive Health Care
Political allies of the Religious Right, like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), are trying to convince the American public that the federal government wants to force nuns to buy birth control.
“You know, every American should know about the Little Sisters of the Poor,” Cruz said during an address at the Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., in 2014. “You want to talk about values? Right now the federal government is suing the Little Sisters of the Poor to try to force Catholic nuns to pay for abortion-inducing drugs.”
Cruz’s comments came in reference to legal challenges filed by dozens of religiously affiliated non-profit organizations, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, that don’t want their employees to get access to birth control.
Indiana's New Legislation Prohibits Transgender People From Using Restroom That Matches Gender Identity
Now that we're in 2016, our attention is turning towards state legislation and what fresh hell state-level politicians are brewing for their constituents. It comes as no surprise that Indiana, home of one of last year's most widely contested RFRAs, is already making its mark in the new year with some more vile legislation.
The Good, The Bad, & The WTF: Top 10 Most Popular Posts In 2015
Selective Worry: Poll Shows Americans Have Greater Concern For The Rights Of Christians
A new Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll reports that Americans overwhelmingly prioritize the religious freedom rights of Christians over other faith groups.
Circuit Court Rules That Catholic Healthcare System Does Not Count As A Church Under ERISA
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals has determined that St. Peter's Healthcare System, a Catholic non-profit healthcare entity, cannot take advantage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) church-plan exemptions. Had the healthcare system gained the right to these exemptions, it would have put the pension plans of over 2,800 employees in jeopardy.
Oregon Anti-LGBT Bakers Finally Pony Up The Dough
Remember the Oregon bakers who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, and then insisted that they could not pay their state-ordered fine despite raising $500,000 via crowdfunding? Well, it looks like they're finally paying out.
Washington State AG Issues A Brief Against Anti-LGBT Florist's Appeal
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has weighed in the on the case of Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene's Flowers and current appellant in a case that has reached the state Supreme Court. You may also remember Stutzman as the florist who made the news for refusing to provide flowers for the marriage of a same-sex couple.
Donald Trump Gives Anti-LGBT FADA Legislation His Approval (Sort Of)
GOP candidates have been pledging their support for the anti-LGBT First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) for about a week, but now The Donald himself has lent the legislation his (honestly, a bit tepid) approval.
Name Game: Ky. Gov. Issues Order Permitting Kim Davis To Remove Her Moniker From Marriage Licenses
Kim Davis is still causing chaos in Kentucky.
New Mexico Pre-Files Indiana-Style RFRA Bill
An Indiana-style RFRA bill has been pre-filed in the New Mexico legislature, the contents of which will both expand the state's concept of "person" to include businesses and the definition of religious freedom to include refusals of service motivated by religious belief. The bill also takes wording from the federal First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), another bill that Americans United has been watching carefully.
ACLU Comments On Kentucky Governor's Executive Order Removing Count Clerks' Names From Marriage Licenses
Liberty Counsel Sues Virginia School Board Over Trans-Inclusive Language In Anti-Discrimination Policy
The Liberty Counsel, an organization defined by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group, is suing a Virginian school board for adding transgender students as a protected class to its anti-discrimination policy.
Women's Bathroom Talking Point Stymies Anti-Discrimination Bills
Interfaith Leaders Continue To Speak Out Against Anti-Muslim Rhetoric
Donald Trump Says... Something... About The War On Christianity
Wyoming School District Drafts Policies To Address Needs Of Transgender Students
Discriminating in the Dark
Title IX of the Civil Rights Act prohibits taxpayer-funded schools from discriminating on the basis of sex when it comes to (among other things) admissions and employment. The government, and increasingly the courts, interpret sex discrimination to include discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity (both of which are forms of impermissible sex stereotyping). Yet over the last few weeks, we've learned that applications for exemptions from Title IX have proliferated, and that the Obama administration has granted exemptions prolifically—and largely in secret.