ACA Non-Discrimination Regulations Under Attack By Providers Seeking Religious Exemption

Jessica Mason Pieklo of Rewire details the assault on Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, a non-discrimination provision that protects against denial of healthcare services based on sex. 

A Federal Judge Rules That Transgender Individuals Do Not Qualify For Federal Civil Rights Protections

Americans United litigation fellow Bradley Girard dissects a federal district judge's ruling in the case that Texas and twelve other states brought against the federal government challenging employment and education protections for transgender Americans.

A Religious Right To Discriminate?: Court Adopts Troubling Interpretation Of Religious Freedom Law

A federal court has ruled that a funeral home had a “religious freedom” right under RFRA to fire a transgender employee. AU Litigation Fellow Bradley Girard dissects this disturbing ruling.

Illinois School District Policy On Transgender Student Bathroom Use Still In Effect As School Year Begins (For Now)

It’s the third day of the new school year in one Illinois school district, and, for now, a transgender student will continue to use the bathroom consistent with her gender identity—just as she has since December last year without incident.  

At the Intersection of Transgender Advocacy and Religious Freedom

AU Legislative Assistant Director Dena Sher joined a Transgender Law Institute panel to discuss the intersections between true religious freedom and transgender advocacy.

Beware The Gender Unicorn: Franklin Graham Takes Aim At The Transgender Community

In North Carolina, Franklin Graham, son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham, is having problems with a unicorn.

Mountaineer Muddle: West Virginia Legislators Contemplate Discriminatory Bills

Just months after the West Virginia Senate voted down the state’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) bill, Mountain State lawmakers are talking about resurrecting it in the next legislative session.

Accommodating Transgender Students In Public Schools Is Nothing New

What happens when a school district allows a transgender student to use the bathroom consistent with his or her gender identity? According to a recent article in The Miami Heraldnot much.

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Of The 2016 State Sessions, Part 2: The Bad And The Ugly

In part 1, we recapped the good— the harmful bills that were stopped. In today’s post, we cover the bad and the ugly of the 2016 state legislative sessions. 

Mississippi Joins Multi-State Anti-LGBT Lawsuit Against The Federal Government [Updated]

Yesterday Mississippi announced that it would be joining 11 other states in their lawsuit against the Obama administration after it reminded states that federal law prohibits schools from discriminating against transgender students in public schools. 

Americans United Responds To Lawsuit Seeking Right to Discriminate Against Transgender Students

Americans United Responds To Lawsuit  Seeking Right to Discriminate Against Transgender Students

On May 13, the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education reiterated that the nation’s civil-rights laws prohibit public schools from discriminating against transgender students. Thus, transgender students must be allowed to use the restrooms and participate in the activities designated for the gender with which they identify.

Today, eleven states—Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Maine, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wisconsin—filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Texas to challenge the government’s authority to protect these students’ civil rights.

Oklahoma's Anti-Transgender Bathroom Bill Is Effectively Dead

Oklahoma's SB 1619, a bills that would have allowed a student or legal guardian to request “religious accommodations” if they attend a public school that allows transgender students to use the single-sex restroom or locker room facilities consistent with their gender identities, died in committee.

Religious Right Group Drafts Anti-LGBT Bathroom Policy For Virginia School District

In previous posts on this blog, we've discussed the Alliance Defending Freedom's (ADF) involvement in lawsuits against public school districts that allow transgender students to use the single-sex restroom and locker room facilities that match their gender identities. Now the ADF has taken it one step further: helping one Virginia school district establish an anti-transgender bathroom policy of its own.

Oklahoma Senate Committee Passes Anti-LGBT Bathroom Bill That Allows For Religious Accommodations

Last week, we wrote about Oklahoma's SB 1619, one of a growing number of "bathroom bills" inspired by North Carolina's infamous HB 2. The very same day, Oklahoma's Senate Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget voted to approve the bill, sending it to the Senate floor for a vote.

Oklahoma Introduces Anti-LGBT "Bathroom Bill" That Uses Religion To Discriminate

Ever since North Carolina passed the infamous HB 2, which prohibits transgender individuals from using the bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity, we’ve heard a lot about so-called "bathroom bills." This week, Oklahoma got in on the act by proposing SB 1619, the first of these bills to raise religion issues.

Government Releases New Guidance To Public Schools On The Rights Of Transgender Students

On Friday, the Department of Education and Department of Justice issued guidance to public schools nationwide reminding schools Title IX prohibits discrimination against transgender students, including denying them access to the restrooms and other facilities consistent with their gender identity.

Illinois Lawsuit Claims State And Federal RFRA Requires Discrimination Against Transgender Student

Last week, two major Religious Right groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education an Illinois school district, trying to stop them from protecting the rights of transgender students. 

Bullseye: The Religious Right Sets Its Sights On Protections For Transgender People

Target has announced that transgender people are welcome to use the bathroom of their choice in its stores, and some fundamentalist Christians are not pleased. The American Family Association (AFA) launched a petition and boycott in response to the chain’s announcement.