Posts — Protect Thy Neighbor

A project of Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Bradley Girard

A Federal Judge Rules That Transgender Individuals Do Not Qualify For Federal Civil Rights Protections

Americans United litigation fellow Bradley Girard dissects a federal district judge's ruling in the case that Texas and twelve other states brought against the federal government challenging employment and education protections for transgender Americans.

A Religious Right To Discriminate?: Court Adopts Troubling Interpretation Of Religious Freedom Law

A federal court has ruled that a funeral home had a “religious freedom” right under RFRA to fire a transgender employee. AU Litigation Fellow Bradley Girard dissects this disturbing ruling.

False Martyrdom: Another Religious Right Horror Story Collapses

Litigation Fellow Bradley Girard explains how disingenuous claims of persecution and the misuse of RFRA harm both the people whose religious exercise is actually at risk and the institutions that work hard to protect genuine religious liberty.

Kim Davis Wants To Have Her Own Appeal Dismissed—And Claim Victory

Kim Davis—the Rowan County, KY, clerk who stopped issuing all marriage licenses so that she would not have to issue them to same-sex couples—filed a motion today with the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that her own case is moot and should be dismissed. But that’s not all: she also argues that the court should throw out the preliminary injunction issued by the trial court last year, which prohibits Davis from refusing marriage licenses altogether.  

“Neither Rain Nor Snow Nor Sleet Nor Dark Of Night” Will Keep Postal Workers From Their Appointed Rounds, But Religious Beliefs Might

As reported in the Friendly Atheist blog, a postal worker in Bremerton, Washington, is refusing to deliver mail to pot shops and an adult video store. Her excuse? Her religious beliefs.