Posts — Protect Thy Neighbor

A project of Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Simon Brown

The First Transgender-Rights Case Reaches The Supreme Court

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which recognized same-sex couples’ right to marry, the fight to attain equal treatment for all has advanced to a new and much-needed area of the law: protecting the rights of transgender persons.

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.

Bogus Defense: U.S. House Holds Hearing On Bill That Would Violate First Amendment and Harm LGBT Persons

Tuesday was the one-month anniversary of the shooting at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando that killed 49 people. This has been a difficult month for the LGBT community, yet on the anniversary, House Republicans held a hearing on a bill aimed at allowing discrimination against same-sex couples and their families in the name of “religious freedom.”

Inappropriate Appropriations: U.S. House Approves Spending Bill Limiting Reproductive Rights While Boosting School Vouchers And Pulpit Politicking

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an important appropriations bill (HR 5485) on Thursday that will help fund the federal government for the next year. Tucked into this legislation are three troubling provisions that would weaken church-state separation and harm true religious liberty.

    Off-Base Bishop: Catholic Leader Complains Of ‘Bloodless Persecution’

    A powerful Roman Catholic official is so upset about marriage equality and the Obama administration’s efforts to include birth control access in healthcare plans that he’s decided to label them examples of “Christian persecution.”

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

    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

    No-Fly Zone: Muslim Kicked Off Flight For Speaking Arabic Is Another Example Of Real Religious Persecution

    The same day a Muslim man was kicked off a flight just for speaking Arabic, Glenn Beck and a show guest whined that Christians are soon going to be locked up for their faith.

    Lousy Landlord: RV Park Owner Allegedly Booted Couple Because His Church Opposes Interracial Marriage

    In a move that seems straight out of the 1960s, a Mississippi landlord has asked a husband and wife to leave his recreational vehicle (RV) park for no reason other than the fact that they are an interracial couple. And like so many attempts to discriminate in 2016, the owner of the park is relying on an old tactic, reportedly booting the two because his church opposes such marriages.

    Transparent Trickery: Claims Of ‘Persecution’ In Idaho Fail To Sway Court

    Another stunt by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) has collapsed after a federal court said that an Idaho wedding venue, which refused to perform same-sex weddings, is not being persecuted because it is already exempt from anti-discrimination laws.

    Birth Control Battle: U.S. Supreme Court Weighs Limits Of ‘Religious Freedom’

    People of faith who live in the United States sometimes have to make compromises between their personal beliefs and following the law. As far as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy is concerned, there is no obvious way to distinguish when violating one’s faith is acceptable and when it isn’t.

    Unfriendly Skies: American Airlines Accused Of Discriminating Against Muslim And Sikh Passengers

    Religion-based discrimination takes many forms in modern America. Often it looks like a county clerk who won’t give a marriage license to a same-sex couple. Other times, it looks like three Muslims and one Sikh getting booted from a flight because they allegedly made passengers and crew “uneasy.”

    State Of Disunion: FRC Head Uses Fear To Motivate His Base

    President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address last night was partly an attempt to calm a nation that is filled with anxiety. His words also offered a stark contrast to those of a Religious Right leader who seems to enjoy fanning the flames of fear.

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

    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.

    Barrier Method?

    U.S. Supreme Court To Hear New Group Of Cases That Could Further Limit Americans' Access To Reproductive Health Care

    Political allies of the Religious Right, like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), are trying to convince the American public that the federal government wants to force nuns to buy birth control.

    “You know, every American should know about the Little Sisters of the Poor,” Cruz said during an address at the Family Research Council’s Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C., in 2014. “You want to talk about values? Right now the federal government is suing the Little Sisters of the Poor to try to force Catholic nuns to pay for abortion-inducing drugs.”

    Cruz’s comments came in reference to legal challenges filed by dozens of religiously affiliated non-profit organizations, including the Little Sisters of the Poor, that don’t want their employees to get access to birth control.

     

    Name Game: Ky. Gov. Issues Order Permitting Kim Davis To Remove Her Moniker From Marriage Licenses

    Kim Davis is still causing chaos in Kentucky.

    God’s Boycott: Ala. Lawmaker Asks Constituents To Only Shop At Christian Businesses

    An Alabama state representative thinks he has a solution for combating terrorism: People should shop only at businesses owned by “God-fearing Christians.”