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. 

New Virginia Bill Would Satisfy All The Kim Davis-Wannabes In The State

A bill has been introduced to the Virginia General Assembly that would make it legal for government employees to pull a Kim Davis and refuse to issue marriage licenses to LGBT couples on religious grounds.

Indiana Governor Pledges To Protect "Religious Freedom" In State Of The State Address

In his State of the State speech, Indiana Governor Mike Pence made it clear that he expected religious freedom to take a starring role in 2016 legislation.

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.

National Organization for Marriage Starts Petition To Limit LGBT Rights In Indiana

The National Organization for Marriage has started a petition calling on Indiana Governor Mike Pence to oppose a "bathroom bill" that would grant rights to LGBT individuals. 

Moore Grandstanding: Ala. Chief Justice Tries Again To Block Marriage Equality

Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore last week tried, once again, to block marriage equality in that state.

Virginia Bill Would Prevent Local Governments From Enacting LGBT Anti-Discrimination Measures

A Virginia delegate has introduced a bill that would prohibit school boards and other local governments in the state from establishing anti-discrimination measures for sexual orientation and gender identity.

Mobile County, Alabama, Issuing Marriage Licenses Again

After just a few days of inactivity, Mobile County has started issuing marriage licenses again. We're pleased to see that sanity has returned to that fair county.

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.

Americans United Speaks Out Against Roy Moore’s Latest Attempt To Block Marriage Equality In Alabama

In a statement today, we at Americans United condemned the administrative order made by Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore which stated that state probate judges must stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Roy Moore’s Latest Attempt To Block Marriage Equality In Alabama Is Doomed To Fail, Says Americans United

Church-State Watchdog Group Calls On State Probate Judges To Ignore Chief Justice’s Order

 

Yes, It Is Possible To Protect LGBT Rights Without Compromising Religious Freedom

In an article for The Atlantic, Emma Green asks whether it's possible to protect LGBT rights without compromising religious freedom. The answer, from our point of view, is an unequivocal yes.

Kansas Anti-Discrimination Bill Moves To Hearing

Amidst the rumblings of bills that would restrict LGBT rights in Georgia and Indiana, there's a flicker of light coming from an unexpected state: Kansas.

Georgia Has LGBT Discrimination On Its Mind

Georgia's legislative session doesn't begin until next Monday, but that hasn't stopped speculation about upcoming bills that would restrict the full use of government services (including marriage licensing) to the LGBT community.

Civil Rights Advocates To Face Tough Times In State Legislatures

The Associated Press lays out the challenges civil rights advocates will be facing this year in the state legislatures as those who wish to use religious freedom to harm others come out swinging.

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

Though Protect Thy Neighbor has only been around since July, so much has happened in the back-half of 2015 that it was no struggle at all to construct something that every blog seems contractually obligated to post at the end of the year: a top ten list. 

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.