Salesforce CEO Comes Out Against Georgia's FADA Bill

Marc Benioff, Salesforce CEO and vocal opponent of last year's Indiana RFRA, has come out against Georgia's HB 757 FADA bill. Saleforce, which cancelled events in Indiana following the passage of the RFRA, has a strong presence in Atlanta.

South Dakota's FADA Tabled By Senate Committee

South Dakota's HB 1107 FADA bill has been tabled by the state's Senate Judiciary Committee, effectively killing it.

South Dakota’s FADA Continues to Move Through the Legislature

This morning at 8:00am CST, the South Dakota Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on HB 1107, also known as the Government Nondiscrimination Act. This bill, which already passed the House, is based off of the federal First Amendment Defense Act (FADA). It would allow any individual, business, non-profit entity, or taxpayer-funded organization to ignore any law that conflicts with their religious beliefs that marriage should be recognized only as “the union of one man and one woman” and that “sexual relations are properly reserved to marriage.” 

Georgia NAACP President Calls For Community Action Against State FADA Bill

Rev. Dr. Francys Johnson, president of the Georgia NAACP, speaks out against threat that is the state's HB 757 FADA/Pastor Protection Act Bill.

West Virginia City Council Considers Whether To Condemn State's RFRA Bill

The Morgantown City Council is considering a resolution to condemn HB 4012, West Virginia's RFRA bill.

Students To Make Their Stories Heard In Upcoming SCOTUS Contraception Case

Last week, we submitted a brief in the ACA contraception accommodations case set to be heard in front of the Supreme Court next month. 

Charlotte Defies Governor, Passes LGBT Discrimination Ban

Despite yesterday's warning from North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, the Charlotte City Council went ahead and passed an LGBT anti-discrimination bill last night.

North Carolina Gov. Threatens Charlotte's Proposed Anti-Discrimination Protections

Governor Pat McCrory has made his disapproval of Charlotte's new proposed LGBT protections heard loud and clear.

Georgia's FADA Not Finalized Yet, Says Governor

While Georgia's HB 757 has been passed by the state's Senate, Governor Nathan Deal suggests that some changes are coming to the legislation.

Georgia's FADA Passes The Senate, Businesses Take Notice

After hours of debate, the Georgia Senate passed HB 757, a bill that combined a state FADA bill and a Pastor Protection Act into one devastating piece of legislation.

Spotlight On: Georgia's HB 757 State FADA/Pastor Protection Act

This morning, the Georgia Senate will debate HB 757, a hybrid of the House Pastor Protection Act and the Georgia First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) (previously SB 284). Many are likely asking: how did they get combined? What does the hybrid bill do? What happens next? What can I do?

Federal Appeals Court Upholds ACA Contraception Accommodation

The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the ACA's contraception accommodation, making it the eighth circuit court to rule for the federal government in this matter. This same accommodation will be heard in front of the Supreme Court next month.

New Survey: Majority Of Americans Oppose Religious Exemptions To Anti-Discrimination Laws

A new survey released by The Public Religion Research Institute says that the majority of Americans oppose religious exemptions to LGBT anti-discrimination laws.

Sense-Free Zone: Okla. Gun Range Owners Face Lawsuit For Turning Muslim Customer Away

Arkansas “patriot” Jan Morgan announced to the world two years ago that her gun range would no longer serve Muslim customers. At the time, I noted that her actions violated public accommodation law and that she would lose an inevitable lawsuit; that did not deter Morgan, and it did not deter a number of other gun-range owners from implementing the same policy.

Spotlight On: Virginia's Discriminatory Bills

Tuesday was “Crossover” in Virginia – the last day for legislation in the commonwealth to move out of one chamber and into the other. We are closely monitoring three bills in the state that would allow discrimination in the name of religion.  

AU Submits Brief In Supreme Court Contraception Case

Americans United submitted a brief in the case of Zubik v. Burwell, the contraception case currently before the Supreme Court. 

Georgia's State FADA Bill Just Got A Whole Lot Worse

With Georgia's FADA and Pastor Protection Act bills now rolled into one super bill, things are looking grim in the Peach State. Robbie Medwed's opinion piece below illustrates the dangers this FADA bill poses to the people of Georgia.

Virginia's State FADA Bill Passes House

Virginia's HB 773, a State FADA bill, has passed the House of Delegates with a 53-46 vote.