Americans United Denounces Trump-Pence Administration’s Harmful Birth Control Rules; Vows To Continue Fighting Them In Court

The Trump-Pence administration continued its attack on women’s reproductive rights and religious freedom today by issuing final rules that would allow employers and universities to cite religion as justification to deny women access to birth control coverage.

Americans United Condemns Trump Administration’s Flip-Flop To Back Michigan Funeral Home That Fired Transgender Employee

The Department of Justice today told the U.S. Supreme Court that the federal government is reversing course on a pending case. The administration now argues that the federal law barring workplace discrimination does not protect Aimee Stephens, the transgender employee of a Michigan funeral home who was fired when the business cited religious beliefs in conflict with Stephens’ gender identity.

Americans United Denounces Trump-Pence Administration’s Latest Attack On Transgender Community

Americans United for Separation of Church and State President and CEO Rachel Laser issued the following statement in response to reports that the Trump-Pence administration is planning to roll back federal protections of transgender people and narrowly define gender.

An Oregon Judge Who Discriminated Against LGBTQ People Loses His Final Court Appeal

A state judge in Oregon who was disciplined for, among other things, refusing to perform weddings for same-sex couples won’t have his case heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

AU Supports Efforts To Put Kids First And Fight Religion-Based Discrimination

Religious freedom gives Americans the right to believe, or not, as they choose, but it does not give anyone the right to use their religious beliefs to discriminate against kids and families.

Philadelphia Officials May Decline To Work With Foster-Care Placement Agencies That Discriminate, Says Americans United

Philadelphia Officials May Decline To Work With Foster-Care Placement Agencies That Discriminate, Says Americans United

The city of Philadelphia does not have to contract with religiously affiliated foster-care placement agencies that engage in discriminatory policies against potential foster parents, Americans United for Separation of Church and State argues in a legal brief filed today.

Why The Kavanaugh Fight Is Worth It

Does it make sense for Americans United to invest, as we have, in trying to defeat the nomination of Kava­naugh to the Supreme Court when the chances of victory have seemed remote? AU President and CEO Rachel Laser's answer: An emphatic yes.

Last Chance To #StopKavanaugh: Tell Your Senators To Vote ‘No’

Last Chance To #StopKavanaugh: Tell Your Senators To Vote ‘No’

Despite compelling, credible testimony yesterday from Professor Christine Blasey Ford who spoke at length that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers, the Senate Judiciary Committee today in a party-line vote agreed to advance Kavanaugh’s nomination to the full Senate for review.

Values Voter Summiters Make The Case For Using Religion To Harm Others

Values Voter Summiters Make The Case For Using Religion To Harm Others

During the Values Voter Summit (VVS) over the weekend, leaders and followers of the Religious Right made clear they plan to continue their attempts to weaponize religious freedom as a means to justify discrimination, particularly against LGBTQ people and women.

New Documents Affirm Kavanaugh's Hostility Toward Church-State Separation

New Documents Affirm Kavanaugh's Hostility Toward Church-State Separation

The Senate Judiciary Committee questioned Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh again yesterday, but we learned even more about his views on church-state separation from the “committee confidential” documents that Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) forced the committee to release yesterday morning.

Senators Must Question Kavanaugh On His Church-State Separation Record

Senate confirmation hearings for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh start today—even though thousands of requested documents from Kavanaugh’s time working in the George W. Bush White House have not yet been released or reviewed by the Senate or the public.

Bush-Era Records Reveal Kavanaugh Was 'Walking Point' On Faith-Based Initiative

One of the issues that the Supreme Court will decide in next few years is whether religion can be used to undermine civil rights protections, especially those that protect LGBTQ people and women. What do we know about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s record on this issue? When he worked for President George W. Bush, he volunteered to be the point person on the “faith-based initiative”—a key component of which was allowing taxpayer-funded organizations that provide social services to use religion to justify employment discrimination.

Women Speak Out Against Kavanaugh’s Harmful Views On Reproductive Rights And Church-State Separation

One of the biggest concerns about President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is how he could shift the balance of power on the court on matters involving reproductive rights. Given his hostile record on church-state separation and of allowing religious freedom to be misused as justification for discrimination, it’s a valid concern—and many women are stepping forward to explain why they oppose Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

They’re Baaaaaack! Masterpiece Cakeshop Seeks New Right To Discriminate Against LGBTQ People

The owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop, the baker who violated Colorado nondiscrimination laws when he refused on to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, is in the national spotlight again. This time, he’s suing the state of Colorado alleging religious discrimination after it came to light that he has refused to bake a cake for a transgender woman.