New Survey: Majority Of Americans Oppose Religious Exemptions To Anti-Discrimination Laws

A new survey released by The Public Religion Research Institute says that the majority of Americans oppose religious exemptions to LGBT anti-discrimination laws.

Sense-Free Zone: Okla. Gun Range Owners Face Lawsuit For Turning Muslim Customer Away

Arkansas “patriot” Jan Morgan announced to the world two years ago that her gun range would no longer serve Muslim customers. At the time, I noted that her actions violated public accommodation law and that she would lose an inevitable lawsuit; that did not deter Morgan, and it did not deter a number of other gun-range owners from implementing the same policy.

Spotlight On: Virginia's Discriminatory Bills

Tuesday was “Crossover” in Virginia – the last day for legislation in the commonwealth to move out of one chamber and into the other. We are closely monitoring three bills in the state that would allow discrimination in the name of religion.  

AU Submits Brief In Supreme Court Contraception Case

Americans United submitted a brief in the case of Zubik v. Burwell, the contraception case currently before the Supreme Court. 

Georgia's State FADA Bill Just Got A Whole Lot Worse

With Georgia's FADA and Pastor Protection Act bills now rolled into one super bill, things are looking grim in the Peach State. Robbie Medwed's opinion piece below illustrates the dangers this FADA bill poses to the people of Georgia.

Virginia's State FADA Bill Passes House

Virginia's HB 773, a State FADA bill, has passed the House of Delegates with a 53-46 vote.

Missouri's New Bill Would Gut State Human Rights Act

Missouri's SB 916 will be heard in front of a Senate committee today, and while the bill isn't technically about LGBT people or women, it will certainly have deleterious effects on both communities.

AU Sends Letter To A West Virginia County About Abusive Deputy Clerk

Americans United sent a letter to Gilmer County commissioners and County Clerk Jean Butcher stating that Deputy Clerk Debbie Allen violated the constitutional rights of a same-sex couple seeking a marriage license. The deputy clerk had referred to their marriage as "an abomination" and told them that they would be judged by God.

W.Va. Clerk Cannot Verbally Abuse Same-Sex Couples Seeking Marriage Licenses, Says Americans United

Church-State Watchdog Group Says Gilmer County Deputy Clerk Has No Right To Disparage or Preach To Couples

Virginia's State FADA Bill Passes Out Of House Committee

HB 773, Virginia's State FADA bill and legislation that would allow the discrimination of the LGBT community, has passed a House of Delegates committee.

Despite RFRA Vote, West Virginia City Passes Anti-Discrimination Law Anyway

Despite yesterday's vote in the West Virginia's House of Delegates on a RFRA bill that would negatively affect municipalities with anti-discrimination ordinances, Martinsburg City Council decided to pass an ordinance anyway.

WV Deputy Clerk Serves Same-Sex Couple A Marriage License With A Heaping Side Of Abuse

Debbie Allen, a deputy country clerk for West Virginia's Gilmer County, did her job last week– she granted a same-sex couple a marriage license. Unfortunately, she also heaped a pile of abuse on the newlyweds. Allen may soon have the freedom to do even more harm if the state's RFRA bill passes.

Spotlight On: West Virginia's RFRA

Today, the West Virginia House is debating HB 4012, a RFRA bill. As with many other state RFRA bills we seen in the wake of Hobby Lobby and the Supreme Court’s marriage quality decision, HB 4012 could allow individuals, and even for-profit corporations, to discriminate, deny women healthcare, and otherwise harm others in the name of religion. 

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

Arlene’s Flowers Cannot Ignore Non-Discrimination Laws Regardless Of Owner’s Beliefs, Church-State Watchdog Group Says

Spotlight On: Overly Broad Pastor Protection Acts

Pastor Protection Acts generally state that the government may not require clergy or houses of worship to perform marriages or host marriage ceremonies that would conflict with their faith. We believe that these bills are unnecessary because the Free Exercise Clause of the U.S. Constitution already guarantees as much, and we don’t oppose them if the language is actually limited to that purpose.

Florida Republicans Considering LGBT Anti-Discrimination Bill

While Florida is no stranger to anti-LGBT legislation, it looks like there might be some light coming from the Sunshine State after all.