The debate over West Virginia's HB 4012 RFRA continues, but some state delegates have been more blunt about the purpose of the bill than others.
National Religious Right Groups Push South Dakota's State FADA Forward
Indiana's RFRA Is Now Being Used To Challenge Local LGBT Anti-Discrimination Laws
Hearing For Georgia's Pastor Protection Act Bill Today At 3:00pm
Spotlight On: Four Anti-LGBT Bills In Oklahoma
Last session, the state of Texas had the distinction of being the state with the most anti-LGBT bills with over 20 pieces of legislation. Fortunately, each one of those bills was defeated. This session, that distinction of (dis)honor belongs to Oklahoma. Their session began this week, and they already have at least 26 anti-LGBT bills, including bills that include religious exemptions that could be used to discriminate. Here is a look at just four of those bills that we are closely tracking.
Republicans, Business Leaders Uneasy About Georgia's "Religious Freedom" Bills
Some Georgia Republicans are finding themselves extremely uneasy about the state's "religious freedom" bills.
Spotlight On: Indiana's SB 344, A Flawed Non-Discrimination Bill
Today, the Indiana Senate is expected to take up SB 344, a flawed non-discrimination bill. There are so many reasons to oppose this bill, including that it fails to offer any protections for transgender Hoosiers. But in this post, we’d like to look at the vast and broad religious exemptions in the bill. Although SB 344 may offer some (insufficient) non-discrimination protections, it also would provide a religious trump card to nullify those protections. The bill also contains religious exemptions that would undermine rights and protections guaranteed by other state and local laws and policies.
Spotlight On: Georgia's Discriminatory Religious Exemption Bills
Having trouble keeping up on what is happening in the Georgia General Assembly? Don’t worry, so many bad bills that claim to protect religious freedom have been introduced that it is hard to follow. But we are here to help. Here is your Georgia cheat sheet: It explains seven of the bills out there that claim to protect religious freedom, but really don’t.
Opponents Concerned Over Georgia's State FADA Bill
SB 284, a state FADA that would essentially allow religious non-profits to treat LGBT couples like second-class citizens, is causing concern in Georgia.
Two Bills Will Discriminate Against Virginians And Their Rights To Marriage Equality
Indiana's Discriminatory LGB "Civil Rights Bill" May Be Stymied
Yesterday we mentioned that the supposed Indiana LGB civil rights bill that is detested on both sides of the aisle was being advanced. Thankfully, today we can report that it probably won't go much further.
Indiana Advances A Discriminatory Bill Disguised As LGB Civil Rights Legislation
Despite the news that Indiana's RFRA is most likely dead, LGBT Hoosiers are still facing legislation that increase chances of discrimination based on another's religious beliefs.
West Virginia RFRA Hearing Today At 9:30 AM
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.
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.
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
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.