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.
Mind the Coverage Gap (A Look at Healthcare Sharing Ministries)
Americans United Speaks Out Against Roy Moore’s Latest Attempt To Block Marriage Equality In Alabama
Roy Moore’s Latest Attempt To Block Marriage Equality In Alabama Is Doomed To Fail, Says Americans United
Yes, It Is Possible To Protect LGBT Rights Without Compromising Religious Freedom
Kansas Anti-Discrimination Bill Moves To Hearing
Georgia Has LGBT Discrimination On Its Mind
Legal Lesson: Texas Lt. Gov. Is Clueless About American History And The First Amendment
Civil Rights Advocates To Face Tough Times In State Legislatures
Barrier Method?
U.S. Supreme Court To Hear New Group Of Cases That Could Further Limit Americans' Access To Reproductive Health Care
Political allies of the Religious Right, like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), are trying to convince the American public that the federal government wants to force nuns to buy birth control.
“You know, every American should know about the Little Sisters of the Poor,” Cruz said during an address at the Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., in 2014. “You want to talk about values? Right now the federal government is suing the Little Sisters of the Poor to try to force Catholic nuns to pay for abortion-inducing drugs.”
Cruz’s comments came in reference to legal challenges filed by dozens of religiously affiliated non-profit organizations, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, that don’t want their employees to get access to birth control.
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.