It's Time To Act! Tell Congress To #RejectRussell
Yesterday Americans United, along with 11 other organizations, launched a petition asking Congress to reject the Russell Amendment, a provision in this year's National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would allow religiously affiliated institutions that receive federal grants and contracts— including hospitals and universities— to use those taxpayer funds to discriminate against employees on the basis of religion.
Sen. McCain Opposed Arizona “Religious Freedom” Bill In 2014 And Now Should Reject A Similar Provision In Defense Bill
The First Transgender-Rights Case Reaches The Supreme Court
The NDAA’s Russell Amendment Goes Much Broader Than Just Defense Policy
Samantha Bee Tackles Catholic Hospital Systems And Religious Restrictions On Reproductive Healthcare
On Monday night, Full Frontal With Samantha Bee squarely took on this issue (as only Sam Bee can), focusing on Catholic hospital systems and their religious restrictions on reproductive healthcare.
#RejectRussell: 42 Senators Reject Dangerous Provision to Sanction Taxpayer-Funded Discrimination
Today, 42 senators, led by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), took a strong public stand against taxpayer-funded employment discrimination. They joined a letter urging that a dangerous provision, which was snuck into a version of the national defense bill in the dead of the night, be stripped out before the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) becomes law.
The Russell Amendment Is The Worst Of The Bush Faith-Based Initiative
For decades, faith-based organizations have partnered with the federal government to perform secular social services, provided that they did not discriminate in hiring within those federally funded programs. The Russell Amendment, a provision attached to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), seeks to turn that concept on its head.
Tell Congress To Strike Taxpayer-Funded Discrimination From The NDAA
Now is your chance to speak out against a provision that would authorize taxpayer-funded employment discrimination. You can make a difference by telling your Senator to oppose taxpayer-funded discrimination and remove this provision from the bill.
"Declaration" Asserts That Religious Beliefs Trump Laws In Cases Of Marriage Equality And Reproductive Rights
Let's Not Forget Who Is Really Harmed By Anti-LGBTQ Laws
When state legislatures, like North Carolina, Mississippi, and Georgia, debate laws that single out LGBTQ people for unequal treatment, the headlines are often about how much these laws would cost the state in lost revenue and the businesses and sports leagues that stand up to discrimination. These stories, unfortunately, often overlook the real impact on LGBTQ people.
Differentiating Between True Religious Freedom And Discrimination
For Some Children, "Religious Freedom" Is Detrimental To Their Health
In an article for The Atlantic, journalist Emma Green writes about the children who are harmed by others' religious beliefs, and the laws which enable that harm. Cases of parents using state Religious Freedom Restoration Acts as defense in child abuse trials are starting to make headlines, but the harm some children face because of their caretakers' religious convictions goes beyond physical abuse. For these kids, it can mean death from treatable medical conditions.
Oregon Anti-LGBT Bakery Closes Up Shop
It’s official: discrimination doesn’t pay. According to The Huffington Post, Sweet Cakes by Melissa, the Oregon bakery that refused to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, closed last week despite raising almost $500,000 on crowdfunding sites.
No Mention Of Gov. Pence's "Religious Freedom" Law During VP Debate
Gov. Mike Pence Has Much To Answer For During Tonight's Vice Presidential Debate
Still More Trouble For North Carolina As Another Athletic Association Pulls Championships From The State
It's been less than a month since the NCAA and ACC moved their championships out of North Carolina due to HB2, a law that sanctions discrimination against transgender people, and the state is taking another hit.
Legislators Need to Strip Taxpayer-Funded Discrimination from Defense Bill
A few months ago, some members of the U.S. House snuck a provision into their version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would authorize taxpayer-funded discrimination in every single federal contract and grant issued by the federal government, whether defense related or not. Now, a group of bipartisan Representatives and Senators are meeting to resolve the issue.
Roy Moore, Alabama’s Anti-Gay Chief Justice, Stands Trial For Ethics Violations
Alabama’s anti-gay chief justice, Roy Moore, was on trial before a state ethics board yesterday. He stands accused of instructing Alabama officials to defy the U.S. Supreme Court’s marriage equality decision. Based on media reports, it seems the longtime foe of Americans United didn’t make a very strong case for keeping his job.