What are 'Religious Freedom' laws, and how are they used against LGBTQ+ people?
Just how far does religious freedom go? Many human rights experts believe it's already gone too far.
APRIL 2, 2025
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right to refuse
Redundant Fla. Law: Pastors Don't Have to Marry Gays
Florida lawmakers spent hours debating a bill that will give clergy members rights they already had.
MARCH 11, 2016
Florida Advances Unnecessary Pastor Protection Act
The bill aims to affirm clergy members' right to refuse to perform same-sex marriages — a right they already have under the U.S. Constitution.
OCTOBER 7, 2015
Court: Teacher's Religious Rights Not Infringed by Trans Students' Names, Pronouns
A federal appeals court ruled that a school district didn’t violate the teacher’s rights by forcing him out over his refusal to acknowledge trans students’ names and pronouns.
APRIL 10, 2023
GOP’s New Hate Bill Not Hateful Enough for Liberty Counsel
The right-wing Liberty Counsel is now refusing to support a bill that protects all moral convictions regarding marriage — the group wants to it specifically demean same-sex marriage.
JULY 28, 2016
Is It OK to Fire a Gay Person? Kavanaugh Won't Say
After sidestepping Sen. Kamala Harris, Brett Kavanaugh evaded yet another question on LGBTQ rights, this time from Sen. Cory Booker.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2018
Celebrity Chefs Support Gay Rights in Supreme Court Wedding Cake Case
Jose Andres, Elizabeth Falkner, and Carla Hall believe no other chef has the right to deny service to a same-sex couple.
OCTOBER 20, 2017
Right Wing Vows to Refuse and Resist
The right is also making comparisons to a pro-slavery decision and talking about 'disenfranchisement.'
JUNE 26, 2015
Rod Stewart Refuses to Perform in Saudi Arabia Over Country's Poor LGBTQ+ Rights Record
British rock icon turned down a lucrative gig, echoing a growing industry trend of advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and human rights in global engagements.
OCTOBER 13, 2023
Trump Met With Protest at Civil Rights Museum
Prominent civil rights leaders refused to go to the museum's opening if President Trump was going.
DECEMBER 10, 2017
Supreme Court avoids transgender police officer case
The Supreme Court refused Monday to consider shielding employers from discrimination lawsuits by transsexuals, dodging a workplace rights fight.
NOVEMBER 7, 2005
Sinema Refuses to Change Filibuster to Pass Voting Rights Legislation
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's refusal to support changing the Senate rule has most likely doomed the legislation that Democrats had wished to pass.
JANUARY 13, 2022
LGBTQ+ Rights Are on the Docket as Supreme Court Starts New Term
The conservative majority on the Supreme Court could pose a serious risk to LGBTQ+ rights.
OCTOBER 3, 2022
Americans Aren't Polarized on LGBTQ Equality, Survey Finds
A new PRRI survey notes broad support for nondiscrimination protections across parties, states, religions, and age groups.
APRIL 14, 2020
Ala. House OK's Judges' 'Right to Refuse' Gay Weddings
In a 69-25 vote, Alabama lawmakers approved a bill intended to make sure no judge, minister, or church is 'forced' to recognize or perform same-sex marriages.
MARCH 13, 2015
Tennessee GOP quietly overturns marriage equality by giving officials the right to refuse
Public officials in Tennessee can now refuse to grant a marriage license to anyone at their own discretion, for any reason.
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
Pope Weighs In on Kim Davis's 'Human Right'
On the flight back to Rome, Pope Francis spoke for the first time on the Kentucky clerk's fight against marriage equality, without specifically naming her.
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SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
Judge: Business Turning Away Same-Sex Couples Is Like Saying 'Whites Only'
A federal judge made the ruling in a case brought by a wedding video company seeking the right to refuse service to same-sex couples.
SEPTEMBER 22, 2017
Iowa Venue Refuses to Host Gay Wedding
Despite the state's marriage equality and antidiscrimination laws, the Mennonite owners of The Gortz Haus say they have the right to refuse service to gay couples based on their religious beliefs.
AUGUST 8, 2013
N.C. Gov. Won't Give Judges, Clerks 'Right to Discriminate'
The Republican governor of North Carolina says he will not sign a partisan bill to give magistrates and clerks the right to refuse to perform same sex marriages or issue marriage licenses to gays and lesbians.
MAY 28, 2015
WATCH: 'Intolerant' to Refuse Baking an Antigay Cake?
Conservative Christian Theodore Shoebat says he asked for 'an explicitly anti-homosexual marriage cake' and couldn't get one.
DECEMBER 15, 2014