Texas

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Michigan Law Allowing State-Contracted Foster Care Organizations To Use Religion As Excuse To Turn Away Families Challenged In Court

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Religious freedom is about fairness. It’s not fair to the children who will remain in foster care longer when state contractors use religion to reject qualified families who want to provide safe, loving homes.

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Texas House Considers Anti-Transgender Bill That Threatens Religious Freedom

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The Texas legislature is back in a special session called by Governor Greg Abbott (R) and the Senate has wasted no time passing troubling measures, including an anti-transgender bathroom ban. Now the action moves to the Texas House of Representatives. Although the House voted down similar bills in the regular session and the Speaker has promised to block it, the fight is far from over for this legislation.

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Taxpayer-Funded Child Welfare Agencies Can Now Use Religion To Discriminate In Texas

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Yesterday Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed HB 3859, and now child welfare agencies receiving state funds can refuse to serve vulnerable children based on the agencies’ religious beliefs. The law is so broad that an agency can even refuse to place children in adoptive and foster homes. 

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Texas State Senate Passes Dangerous Adoption Bill In Final Days Of Legislative Session

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The Texas legislature only meets every other year. So, with the last day of session rapidly approaching, the past few days—yes, even including the weekend—have been wild. And the result: a lot of harmful policies are closer to becoming law.

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Texas "Religious Freedom" Bills Could Discriminate Against Children And Families

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Americans United supports true religious freedom—the freedom to believe or not believe according to your own conscience. SB 892 and HB 3859 pervert this cherished American right, allowing taxpayer-funded child-welfare agencies to use their religious beliefs to harm children who need a caring home and the families that long to provide one for them.

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The State Legislatures Are Back In Session And We’re Ready!

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Right now, state lawmakers are trying to use religion as an excuse to discriminate, but we're ready to fight back! Our 2017 State Legislation Tracker is your one-stop-shop for news, resources and most importantly, how you can make a difference.

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Federal Judge Says Key Protections Against Discrimination in the ACA Will Violate RFRA

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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.

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‘Marriage Equality’ Is A Confusing Term For This Texas Judge

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A Texas Supreme Court justice recently wrote a dissent arguing that it should be legal for government bodies to deny same-sex couples spousal benefits because— get this– it would “encourage procreation.”

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

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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. 

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

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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.

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New Lawsuit Claims Healthcare Professionals Should Have Religious Exemptions When Caring For Transgender Individuals

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Texas and four other states filed suit against the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Tuesday, claiming that healthcare professionals should be able to deny transgender individuals necessary medical care if it violates their religious beliefs. This is the second lawsuit brought by Texas that directly attacks the rights of the transgender community.

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Problematic Pastor: Why Is A Controversial Texas Minister Counseling Dallas Law Enforcement?

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A controversial Texas pastor who partnered with Dallas officials to offer counselling and support services to local law enforcement is under fire for making anti-LGBT comments

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Texas Judge Does Not Have Religious Freedom Right To Deny Service To Same-Sex Couples, Says Americans United

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Dallas County Official Cannot Impede Marriages Of Any Qualified Couples, Church-State Watchdog Group Says

 

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Legal Lesson: Texas Lt. Gov. Is Clueless About American History And The First Amendment

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It seems Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has a poor understanding of both American history and the First Amendment. So let’s take a few moments to educate him.

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Opponents Of Same-Sex Parenting Twist Science To Agree With Ideology

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A Los Angeles Times op-ed tackles why opponents of same-sex parents need erroneous research to push their agenda. Unsurprisingly, for some people ideology comes before the well-being of children.