This morning, starting at 9:30 am, the West Virginia House will hold a public hearing on House Bill 4012, the “West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act.” West Virginians will be gathering in the House chamber to voice their opinions on this bill. We have some opinions about this bill, too, and it should come as no surprise by now, that we strongly oppose this bill.
Committee Recommends Removal Of Oregon Judge Who Screened LGBT Marriage Applicants
The Oregon judge who was made infamous for both his screening of LGBT marriage applicants and for having a portrait of Hitler on his wall is in danger of losing his job.
Virginia to Hear Bill that Would Allow Clerks to Refuse to Provide Marriage Licenses
Virginia’s SB 40 would allow clerks and deputy clerks in the state to refuse to issue marriage licenses “[i]f the clerk or deputy clerk has an objection to the issuance of such license on personal, ethical, moral, or religious grounds.” We all know that the couples most likely to be denied a license by clerks under this bill are same-sex couples.
An Indiana Lawmaker Has Some Really Odd Opinions About LGBT Americans
Great News: Indiana's RFRA Bill Is Most Likely Dead For The Session
Last Year's RFRA Bill May Have Cost Indiana $60 Million
Spotlight On: Headline-Making RFRA Bills Nationwide
Kim Davis's Delusions Of Grandeur Grow Apace
New Mexico's RFRA Bill Is Mostly Dead
Spotlight On: Tennessee's Discriminatory Healthcare Bills
Today, we continue our coverage of bills that we expect to dominate the state legislatures by focusing on two related sets of bills in Tennessee. HB 566/SB 397 and HB 1840/SB 1556 would both allow individuals to withhold counseling services—an important, and sometimes lifesaving, healthcare service—from certain patients. And we know that those who would be most likely to be refused services are LGBT patients.
Department of Ed. To Publish List of Religious Schools Allowed To Discriminate Against LGBT Students
Nebraska Adoption Bill Would Discriminate Against LGBT Parents
Poll Shows That Negative Views Still Linger After Indiana's RFRA Drama
The So-Called First Amendment Defense Act Reaches the States
Today, we continue our coverage of bills that we expect to dominate the state legislatures by focusing on bills already being discussed in four states—Virginia, Georgia, Washington, and Illinois—that are modeled after the federal First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) bill.
Spotlight On: Georgia HB 756, Georgia HB 757 And Representative Tanner’s Misguided Attempts at Religious Freedom
On Wednesday, Representative Kevin Tanner introduced two bills that would sanction discrimination in the name of religion. HB 757 is being sold as a Pastor Protection Act, even though it goes much further than ensuring that the government doesn’t require clergy to perform marriages with which they disagree. HB 756 would allow businesses to refuse same-sex couples and, in an unexpected twist, allow businesses to refuse to serve churches and religious schools.
Spotlight On: Georgia and SB 129
New Religious Freedom Bill Introduced In Virginia
Georgia Clergy Sign Letter Protesting Religious Exemptions
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.