In early 2014, we saw the power a major sports franchise can have to stop bad “religious freedom” bills when conservative Arizona Governor Jan Brewer vetoed a broad state Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). After the bill passed the legislature and before Gov. Brewer’s veto, the National Football League (NFL) issued a statement implying that, if this bill should pass, they may not choose to host the Super Bowl in the state as planned.
Religious Refusal of the Day: New York Wedding Venue Discriminates Against Same-Sex Couple
One of the more farfetched attempts to use religion to discriminate is on display in a case working its way through the New York courts. The owners of a commercial wedding venue refused to rent their venue to a same-sex couple who wanted to use it for their wedding. Unsurprisingly, the New York Division of Human Rights concluded that the wedding venue's refusal to rent to the couple violated the state's antidiscrimination law.
Skim-Milk Marriage Licenses, Kim Davis Edition
The Kim Davis saga continues. After she was released from jail (after being held in contempt for blocking the Rowan County Clerk's office from issuing marriage licenses) she confiscated all of the standard licenses, and replaced them with marriage licenses that no longer mention of Rowan County or the Rowan County Clerk or Deputy Clerks, and which makes it clear that the licenses are being issued in response to a court order. By using this adulterated form, Davis is announcing to couples that the government is letting them get married only under protest, and she is possibly jeopardizing the legal legitimacy of the marriages at issue.
GOP Presidential Candidates Call For Disturbing Measures Against Muslims
Are Probate Judges In Alabama Preventing You From Marrying?
Oklahoma Supreme Court Expands Custodial Rights For Same-Sex Parents
Texas, Self-Induced Abortion, and an Ode to Justice Powell
From AU's Senior Litigation Counsel Greg Lipper's guest post on Bill of Health.
Kansas Legislative Committee Chairman Questions Allowing Foster Children To Go To Same-Sex Families
Indiana Republicans' "Anti-Discrimination" Bill Actually Discriminates Against LGBT Community
SCOTUS Asked To Take Up Same-Sex Adoption Case
Congress Presses Attorney General on OLC Memo
Earlier today, the House Committee on the Judiciary held an oversight hearing, questioning U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch about the activities of the Department of Justice. During the hearing, Lynch occupied the hot seat while members of the committee peppered her with questions on everything from homeland security to voting rights.
US Roman Catholic Bishops Still Oppose Marriage Equality
American Muslims Face Threats, Gunfire After Paris Attack
Give Us Your Huddled Masses (If They’re Christians): GOP Hopefuls Call For Rejecting Muslims Refugees Fleeing ISIS
The U.S. government should refuse to resettle Syrian Muslims, two presidential candidates announced this weekend. Reacting to Friday’s devastating Paris attacks, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) both advised the government to agree to resettle only Syrian Christians.
Florida Pastor Changes His Mind In Favor of LGBT Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
Abortion Derangement Syndrome, Missouri Edition
Over 1,000 Families Leave LDS Over The Weekend
Remember last week when we said that the new Mormon policies were angering same-sex families? It looks like the chickens have come home to roost.