North Carolina Law Allowing Magistrates To Avoid Officiating Marriages For Same-Sex Couples Facing Challenges In Federal Court

The attention surrounding North Carolina's controversial bathroom law makes it easy to forget that the Tar Heel State recently enacted another anti-LGBT measure. This one allows magistrates to opt-out of their duty to perform marriages for at least six months if they have a religious objection. 

Accountability In Alabama: No One Is Above The Law, Chief Justice Moore

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit brought by disgraced Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore and Liberty Counsel against the Judicial Inquiry Commission (JIC). Here's a reminder about why the Justice Moore is in trouble in the first place.

Real (Bad) Alternatives: ‘Secular’ Anti-Abortion Group Seeks Church Exemption To Contraceptive Mandate

On Monday, Americans United filed a friend-of-the-court brief in Real Alternatives v. Burwell— yet another challenge to the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that employers who provide health insurance to employees must include contraception coverage.

DNC Round-Up: Democrats Offer Alternative Vision Of Religious Freedom

DNC Round-Up: Democrats Offer Alternative Vision Of Religious Freedom

Democrats met in Philadelphia, PA, last week to nominate a candidate for president— and in the process touched on religious freedom issues affecting the country today

Cruz Control?: Texas Senator Says Religious Freedom Protects Atheists, Muslims

It should surprise no one that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) mentioned religious freedom in his speech to the Republican National Convention last night. But this time, Cruz deviated from his usual rhetoric.
 

Former AU Law Clerk Explains Personal Side Of Supreme Court's Non-Decision In Zubik

In an editorial published in Rewire, former Americans United law clerk Alison Tanner stressed that the Supreme Court's non-decision in Zubik v. Burwell leaves thousands of students like her in healthcare limbo.

Netroots Nation Conference Connects Protect Thy Neighbor With Social Justice Activists Nationwide

AU Field Associate Erin Hagen describes her experience at the 2016 Netroots Convention and how Protect Thy Neighbor takes part in social justice activism.

FRC’s FADA Fade Away

We all know that in politics, sometimes people say one thing and mean another. It isn’t that often, though, that a group flip flops in a way that makes it so obvious.

Read Our First Amendment Defense Act House Committee Hearing Storify!

Did you miss Tuesday's hearing on the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA)? Don't worry– you can catch up on our Storify, where we bring you video, commentary, and tweets from the afternoon's events. 

Bogus Defense: U.S. House Holds Hearing On Bill That Would Violate First Amendment and Harm LGBT Persons

Tuesday was the one-month anniversary of the shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando that killed 49 people. This has been a difficult month for the LGBT community, yet on the anniversary, House Republicans held a hearing on a bill aimed at allowing discrimination against same-sex couples and their families in the name of “religious freedom.”

Not One, But Three: All Versions Of FADA Sanction Discrimination In The Name Of "Religious Liberty"

The legislators pushing FADA have realized just how egregious it is and have floated two other proposals that might make it better at the margins—but at heart, they still sanction discrimination under the guise of religion.

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

Federal FADA Hearing Set for July 12

It's official: Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), the Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, announced that he has scheduled a hearing on this harmful legislation for July 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM.

Keeping Secrets?: Kim Davis Accused Of Violating Ky. Open-Records Law

Kim Davis’ legal woes aren’t quite over yet. The office of the State Attorney General announced yesterday that the embattled Rowan County clerk may have violated the Kentucky Open Records Act when she refused to comply with a records request from a Washington, D.C.-based government watchdog.

File Under: Troubling. Congress To Hold Hearing on Unconstitutional Bill

Congress intends to hold a hearing on the federal First Amendment Defense Act, which sanctions discrimination against same-sex couples, unmarried couples, married couples in which one person had been married before, single mothers, and individuals who have had sex outside of marriage. 

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

A district judge granted a preliminary injunction that bars the state from enforcing Mississippi’s HB 1523, which was set to go into effect July 1.

Lawsuit Challenges Religiously Based Restrictions on Unaccompanied Children’s Access to Healthcare

A lawsuit filed last week challenges the U.S.Government’s decision to sanction religiously based restrictions on vital healthcare provided to unaccompanied immigrant children and teens.

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.