Indiana

AU And Allies Sue Trump Administration And Notre Dame Over Back-Door Negotiations That Deny Women Access To Contraception

Americans United filed a lawsuit yesterday challenging multiple actions by the Trump-Pence administration—including back-room deals with the University of Notre Dame—that would deny countless women access to contraception.

On #GivingTuesday, Here's A Reminder Of How Your Donations Help Americans United Defend Religious Freedom

Today is #GivingTuesday, an international day of philanthropy that kicks off the charitable season. Thanks to generous gifts from our supporters on #GivingTuesday and throughout the year, Americans United has been able to continue to fight against attacks on religious freedom.

Gov. Mike Pence Has Much To Answer For During Tonight's Vice Presidential Debate

The Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which Gov. Mike Pence signed in 2015, harms the state's women, LGBTQ individuals and families, those who belong minority religions, and others who could face discrimination because of this law.

Governor Mike Pence and the RFRA Debacle

After Gov. Pence signed SB 101 into law, businesses and prominent Hoosiers took a stand against it: the NCAA, CEOs, NASCAR, law professors, healthcare providers, musicians, authors, performers, athletes, conventions, and entire states announced criticism and even boycotts of the state. 

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly Of The 2016 State Sessions, Part 1: The Good

Over the next two days, we will be reviewing the good, the bad, and the ugly of the 2016 state sessions. Today’s post will cover the good— harmful bills that were stopped. 

Sibling Rivalry: Religious Freedom Puts Economic and Religious Conservatives At Odds

In a provocative piece published yesterday, the Washington Post’s James Hohmann argued that the controversy reveals a growing split within the Republican Party. Social issues, he wrote, no longer hold the party together.

Federal Appeals Court Rules That Employee Pensions At Religiously Affiliated Organizations Are Protected

Employees at religiously affiliated organizations in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin can breathe a sigh of relief today—now that a federal appeals court has ruled that their pensions and employee benefits are safe for now.

 

Indiana Governor Releases Heavily Redacted Records From Post-RFRA Public Relations Firm

Records obtained from Indiana Governor Mike Pence's office regarding the hiring and firing of a global public relations firm after RFRA became law raise more questions than answers.

Indiana's RFRA Is Now Being Used To Challenge Local LGBT Anti-Discrimination Laws

Indiana's RFRA is finally rearing its ugly head as conservative groups use it to files lawsuits challenging LGBT anti-discrimination ordinances. 

Spotlight On: Indiana's SB 344, A Flawed Non-Discrimination Bill

Today, the Indiana Senate is expected to take up SB 344, a flawed non-discrimination bill. There are so many reasons to oppose this bill, including that it fails to offer any protections for transgender Hoosiers. But in this post, we’d like to look at the vast and broad religious exemptions in the bill. Although SB 344 may offer some (insufficient) non-discrimination protections, it also would provide a religious trump card to nullify those protections. The bill also contains religious exemptions that would undermine rights and protections guaranteed by other state and local laws and policies.

Indiana's Discriminatory LGB "Civil Rights Bill" May Be Stymied

Yesterday we mentioned that the supposed Indiana LGB civil rights bill that is detested on both sides of the aisle was being advanced. Thankfully, today we can report that it probably won't go much further.

Indiana Advances A Discriminatory Bill Disguised As LGB Civil Rights Legislation

Despite the news that Indiana's RFRA is most likely dead, LGBT Hoosiers are still facing legislation that increase chances of discrimination based on another's religious beliefs.

An Indiana Lawmaker Has Some Really Odd Opinions About LGBT Americans

In a bizarre series of statements, an Indiana politician has compared LGBT Americans to murderers, pedophiles, and overweight white people.

Great News: Indiana's RFRA Bill Is Most Likely Dead For The Session

Senate Judiciary Committee chair Senator Brent Steele allowed the bill sponsor, Senator Michael Young, to present his bill but did not allow testimony or a vote, explaining that this is not the year to take on another RFRA bill. 

Spotlight On: Headline-Making RFRA Bills Nationwide

As state legislatures across the country begin their sessions, there are already almost 20 bills in 11 states that would either create or amend an existing RFRA.  Today we highlight RFRA bills that have been making headlines.