On New Year’s Eve, a federal judge sided with states and stopped the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from implementing the protections barring sex discrimination in the provision of healthcare services. As a result, individuals who are transgender and who’ve had abortions are at risk.
PTN Looks Back On The Five Biggest Religious Freedom Stories Of 2016
Americans United Joins The Fight In Court Against Mississippi's "Religious Freedom" Law
On Friday, we joined an amicus brief opposing HB 1523 because it uses religion as an excuse to sanction discrimination. Religious freedom is a fundamental American value— it guarantees us the freedom to believe or not as we see fit. What it does not do, though, is grant anyone a right to harm others.
Alabama's Suspended Chief Justice Roy Moore Could Be Heading To The U.S. Senate
Thought you had heard the last of Alabama's suspended Chief Justice Roy Moore? Think again. When we last left the embattled judge, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary found him guilty of ethics violations after he issued an order to probate judges implying that they could ignore the Supreme Court's 2015 marriage equality decision. Now Roy Moore could be in a position of power again— this time in the U.S. Senate.
Most Small Business Owners In Colorado Oppose Laws That Use Religion To Trump LGBTQ Nondiscrimination Protections, New Poll Shows
Federal First Amendment Defense Act Poised To Make A Comeback In 2017
This week, U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) announced that next year he plans to reintroduce the so-called First Amendment Defense Act (FADA), a bill that would allow individuals and corporations to use religion as an excuse to discriminate against, well, almost everyone.
Another Day, Another Unnecessary Anti-LGBTQ Lawsuit
This week, Telescope Media Group, a Minnesota media-production company, filed a lawsuit claiming that the state’s nondiscrimination law violates their religious freedom. They are seeking a court order that would exempt them from the nondiscrimination provisions that otherwise apply to all businesses open to the public. Why? They want to turn away same-sex couples who might purchase the company’s wedding-video-production services.
Congress Rejected Russell: Let’s Celebrate, But There Are More Fights Ahead
The Numbers Are In: NC's Gov. McCrory Primarily Ousted Over HB 2
Last week, Americans United's Samantha Sokol wrote that discrimination doesn't win in North Carolina. Now, after Governor Pat McCrory's defeat in the state's gubernatorial race and the release of a report by Human Rights Campaign and Equality North Carolina regarding voters' views on HB 2, this verdict is proven by the numbers.
Hospitals Aren’t Churches: Why The Supreme Court Should Conclude As Much And Protect Hundreds Of Thousands of Pensions
Metro Atlanta Chamber Announces Intent To Oppose All Georgia's Harmful "Religious Freedom" Bills In 2017
Discrimination Doesn’t Win In North Carolina
Is Discrimination The Price We’ll Pay For Trump’s HHS Secretary?
A Religious Right To Evade Taxes? Indiana RFRA Strikes Again
An Indiana man is invoking the state’s controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) as a defense in his criminal trial for tax evasion.
A Reflection on Atlantic Live’s LGBTQ Summit: Why Religious Liberty And LGBTQ Rights Are Not At Odds
Americans United And Allies Deliver Over 342,000 Signatures Opposing Russell Amendment To Congress
Yesterday, Americans United joined a dozen of our allies to deliver a petition with more than 340,000 signatures to Congress calling for lawmakers to strike the Russell Amendment from the defense bill. Our organizations, with millions of members and supporters from across the country, are raising our voices to oppose taxpayer-funded discrimination sanctioned by this provision.
In Congress, The Fight Against Discrimination Is Now
Oral Arguments In Anti-LGBTQ Florist Case Happening This Week
Tomorrow, the Washington Supreme Court will hear oral argument to decide whether Arlene’s Flowers violated Washington’s nondiscrimination statutes by denying service based on a protected characteristic— here, sexual orientation.