Zubik v. Burwell, Part 5: These Exceptions are Unexceptional
In his fifth post on Zubik v. Burwell, Senior Litigation Counsel Greg Lipper debunks the ACA challengers' argument that exceptions to the law undermine the importance of contraception.
MPAA Is "Confident" That Georgia's Governor Will Not Sign Discriminatory Bill
Georgia's HB 757, a bill that sanctions discrimination based on religion, is getting poor reviews in Hollywood. Yesterday, entertainment industry paper Variety reported that a Motion Picture Association of America official is very sure that Governor Nathan Deal will not sign the bill into law. Georgia's film and television industry is booming, leading activists to call upon production companies to use their heft to protest HB 757.
Zubik v. Burwell, Part 4: The Compelling Interest in Contraceptive Coverage
Senior Litigation Counsel Greg Lipper outlines the compelling interest in contraception coverage in the fourth part of his series on Zubik v. Burwell.
Home Depot Co-Founder Opposes Georgia's Discrimination Bill
Last Week In Review: March 14–19
Zubik v. Burwell, Part 3: Birth Control Is Not Abortion
In the third part of his blog series on Zubik v. Burwell, Senior Litigation Counsel Greg Lipper debunks the myth of “abortifacients" and other erroneous labeling of standard birth control methods.
Even More Companies And Celebrities Urge Georgia's Governor To Veto Harmful Bill
Companies, politicians, and celebrities have been coming out against Georgia's HB 757, a bill that would allow individuals, businesses, and taxpayer-funded social services organizations to refuse to adhere to any laws that conflict with their religious beliefs about marriage, almost since the day it was introduced. Now that the bill has passed through the legislature and sits on Governor Nathan Deal's desk, these opponents are louder than ever.
Zubik v. Burwell, Part 2: The Religious Objectors Who Cried Wolf
Federal Appeals Court Rules That Employee Pensions At Religiously Affiliated Organizations Are Protected
Utah Lawmaker Coughs And Sneezes Long Enough To Kill Anti-LGBT Bill
Zubik v. Burwell, Part 1: Why Paperwork Does Not Burden Religious Exercise
Georgia's General Assembly May Have Surprise Vote On "Religious Liberty" Bill On Wednesday
According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia's HB 757 will be voted on today by the General Assembly. This news comes as a surprise, as business leaders and LGBT advocates have roundly denounced this "religious liberty" bill as legalized discrimination.
Alabama Legislature Packs Multiple False Religious Liberty Bills Into One Day
The House Committee on Health will hold a hearing on HB 158, the “Alabama Child Care Provider Inclusion Act,” which would allow organizations that provide adoption and child placement services the ability to “refrain from conduct that conflicts with their sincerely held religious beliefs.”
Last Week in Review: March 7–11
Sporting Giants NCAA and Big 12 "Concerned" About Missouri's Discriminatory Constitutional Amendment
Transgender Man Denied Haircut At Barbershop Due To Owner's Religious Beliefs
Oklahoma Introduced The Most Anti-LGBT Bills In The Country
Religious Right Curiously Silent During Management-Muslim Religious Liberty Dispute
Baptist Lobbyist Compares Georgia Lawmakers To Hitler For Failure To Pass "Religious Liberty" Laws
Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time online knows of Godwin's Law, the adage that as an online discussion progresses "the probability of a comparison involving Nazis or Hitler" increases. Yesterday, Godwin's Law jumped from cyberspace into real life as the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's Public Affairs Director and Capitol Lobbyist compared members of the Georgia General Assembly to Hitler for their failure to pass “religious liberty bills” that would could be used to discriminate against others.