There is a fierce debate in many religious communities about LGBTQ issues, and the United Methodist Church (UMC) is certainly no exception. Due to the unique legal structure of the UMC, this debate is triggering a serious fracture within the church – one that is causing many individual congregations to leave. The process of leaving Read More

Catholicism is one of the strictest religions on the planet, and it has a history of excommunicating segments of the population (or entire nations, as the English can attest). There are reportedly 62 million Catholics in the United States and not all of these individuals always see eye-to-eye with the Vatican. A certain degree of controversy is Read More

An Oklahoma republican legislator recently introduced a bill that would permit fining teachers and initiating legal action against them if they provide an opposing viewpoint to any religious beliefs held by a student.  The Measure on Fining Teachers Oklahoma Senator Rob Standridge introduced Under the Student’s Religious Belief Protection Act, which proposes fining teachers $10,000 Read More

In a recent landmark decision earlier this year, the United States Supreme Court held that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act protects LGBTQ workers from on-the-job discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The decision was the result of a 6-3 majority that saw Justices Gorsuch and Roberts, who are traditionally viewed Read More

The Governor of Idaho recently signed not one but two anti-trans bills into law during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. One of the bills seeks to prohibit gender changes on birth certificates, while the other seeks to halt transgender student athletes from playing sports. The Anti-Trans Bills at Hand While most states in the Read More

A lesbian teacher in the Dallas, Texas area was recently awarded a $100,000 settlement from the school district where she was suspended for supposedly “promoting the homosexual agenda.” The teacher, Stacy Bailey, had been disciplined and removed from her teaching position after allegedly showing a picture of her then fiancée during a “get to know Read More

The country’s treatment of LGBTQ individuals has changed substantially over the last decade. Among other developments, the United States Supreme Court in 2015 ruled that same-sex marriage must be recognized nationwide. Despite such advancements, four Colorado lawmakers recently introduced a bill to prohibit same-sex marriage in the state. The anti-LGBTQ law also would have prohibited Read More

The Virginia Values Act was recently passed by both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly, and democratic Governor Ralph Northam has said he will sign it into law. The bill will update Virginia’s nondiscrimination laws and provide additional protection for LGBTQ individuals in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations. Once signed, Virginia will Read More

A lawyer recently sent a letter to 95 Tennessee county clerks arguing they violated the state constitution by issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Utah Congressman Chris Stewart recently introduced the Fairness for All Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, which aims to be a compromise bill to both protect LGBTQ people and religious freedom. This appears to be the first time that a so-called LGBTQ civil rights bill has been introduced by a conservative lawmaker, and it Read More