Save The Day: Celebrating Real Religious Freedom
Saturday is Religious Freedom Day. While it’s not one of our most well-known or popular holidays, Religious Freedom Day shouldn’t be overlooked. Our country is in the middle of a campaign, spearheaded by far-right religious groups and their political allies, to redefine religious freedom. We cannot allow this to happen.
Wedding Venue Has No Religious Right to Discriminate, Says NY Court
Good news out of New York: today an appeals court rejected efforts by a commercial wedding venue, Liberty Ridge Farm, refused to allow a same-sex couple to rent the venue for its wedding. The venue’s conduct violated New York’s antidiscrimination law, which prohibits (among other things) discrimination the basis of sexual orientation by public accommodations. Represented by Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious-right group, the wedding venue argued that its antigay discrimination was protected by the rights to free speech, free association, and the free-exercise of religion.
Spotlight On: Kentucky's Marriage Bills
Today we examine bills four pre-filed bills from Kentucky that would allow individuals, including government officials, to deny marriage licenses or refuse to solemnize marriages and one that would change the state’s role in marriage. HB 14, 17, 28, 31 and SB 5 would each amend Kentucky law in various ways but all with similar intent – to discriminate against LGBT couples who have the desire, and constitutional right, to marry.
Kentucky Owes Marriage Equality Lawyers $1.1 Million
Like the citizens of Alabama before them, Kentucky taxpayers are going to see over a million of their dollars going to the lawyers who fought the state's marriage equality ban.
Spotlight On: Florida's HB 401
Today, we examine Florida’s HB 401. HB 401 would add a new section to Florida’s existing Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).
New Virginia Bill Would Satisfy All The Kim Davis-Wannabes In The State
Indiana Governor Pledges To Protect "Religious Freedom" In State Of The State Address
Worried About Legislation in Your State? Stay Informed Using PTN’s New State Bill Tracker
As state legislatures gather across the country to start their 2016 legislative sessions, Protect Thy Neighbor is gearing up to monitor and fight legislation that would allow individuals, businesses, and government employees to harm others in the name of religion. Now, you can follow along too by using PTN’s new legislative tracking page. Keep up with the latest news, bill information, and ways to take action in the states and on the federal level. We will update the status of the bills in our state tracker every Tuesday and Friday, and will also continue to provide you with latest legislative news as it occurs.
Members of Congress Sign Brief Arguing for Complete Exemption for Religious Non-profits from Contraception Mandate
More than 200 Members of Congress recently submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing in favor of the religious non-profit organizations in the soon-to-be-heard Zubik v. Burwell case.
National Organization for Marriage Starts Petition To Limit LGBT Rights In Indiana
Moore Grandstanding: Ala. Chief Justice Tries Again To Block Marriage Equality
Virginia Bill Would Prevent Local Governments From Enacting LGBT Anti-Discrimination Measures
Mobile County, Alabama, Issuing Marriage Licenses Again
Americans United Files Brief In Federal Court After Roy Moore's Marriage Ban
Americans United and its co-counsel organizations filed a brief with a federal trial court today, calling for the court to issue a final, permanent injunction against defendants in the ongoing Alabama marriage equality case. The move comes a day after Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore declared that all state probate judges must stop providing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Mobile County Judge Stops Issuing Marriage Licenses After Roy Moore's Ban
While Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's announcement on Wednesday banning marriage licenses for same-sex couples was largely greeted with surprise and anger, one probate judge decided to cease issuing marriage licenses to all couples in his county.