Southern Baptists in Texas were well represented at a Texas Senate hearing on how to protect religious liberty that critics say was in reality more about finding ways to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Southern Baptists in Texas need stronger…
Georgia clergy oppose First Amendment Defense Act
For the second year in a row, religious leaders are lining up on both sides of controversies over bills labeled “religious liberty” measures that critics say mask a hidden agenda of discrimination against gays and lesbians. A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship…
Battle over LGBT discrimination hits Charlotte
Southern Baptists in North Carolina are upset by a proposed non-discrimination measure they say endangers women and children and could force business owners to support same-sex marriage against their religion. The city council in Charlotte N.C., will vote Feb. 22…
Jacksonville latest city to grapple with human rights ordinance
Jacksonville, Fla., is the latest U.S. city where clergy are arguing both for and against proposals to bar discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The pastor of one of the largest churches in Jacksonville, Fla., says…
Online tool tracks ‘faux religious freedom’ claims
By Bob Allen Americans United for Separation of Church and State enumerated five of the year’s worst legislative ideas — so far — in a new online tool tracking “religious freedom” bills in state legislatures and Congress that AU believes are intended…
AU says Christian printer has no ‘religious freedom’ right to discriminate
By Bob Allen A Kentucky printer’s religious beliefs do now entitle him to refuse to make T-shirts for a gay-pride event, Americans United for Separation of Church and State argued in a legal brief filed Dec. 28. The friend-of-the-court brief…
Senators ask government to publish names of schools requesting Title IX waivers
By Bob Allen Eight Democratic senators including presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and former Saturday Night Live star Al Franken asked the Department of Education in a letter Dec. 18 to make public the names of colleges and universities asking for Title…
Faith groups join White House in targeting religious bigotry
By Bob Allen The Obama administration announced a new initiative to fight religious discrimination in communities at a White House forum Dec. 17 about upholding America’s tradition of religious pluralism. Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division of the…
Alumni pair ask Carson-Newman to revoke Title IX waiver
By Bob Allen Two alumni of Carson-Newman University have written an open letter urging the Baptist-affiliated school to revoke its waiver from a federal law banning discrimination. Travis Cooper and Jared Champion, who graduated from the school located in Jefferson…