In what is being heralded as a far-reaching win for civil rights, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that an Abercrombie & Fitch clothing store in Oklahoma unlawfully discriminated against a Muslim job applicant by rejecting her for a sales position because she wore a hijab. In an 8-1 decision, the court sided with the…
Indiana lawmakers today unveiled — and swiftly approved — proposed changes to the state’s recently-passed Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The bill is now sitting on Governor Mike Pence’s desk. But what is actually in the bill? The text states that the RFRA does not allow an individual, business, organization, association, and “other organized groups of…
Echoing the incredulous police chief in the movie Casablanca, proponents of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act say they are shocked to discover that anyone objects to protecting religious believers from government oppression. As the nuclear reaction that has engulfed us for the past week continues to burn, one wonders how so many legislators got this…
Indiana lawmakers are scrambling to backpedal as a fierce backlash has taken hold against Republican Governor Mike Pence since he signed into law legislation that effectively permits discrimination against people thought to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. Under the handle #BoycottIndiana, LGBTQ activists and supporters across the nation are vowing economic retribution against…
A former United Parcel Service delivery driver demanding restitution for discrimination she allegedly faced while pregnant just won a favorable ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court. In a 6-3 decision on Wednesday, the justices tossed out a lower court ruling that had dismissed the case of the plaintiff, Peggy Young. The decision effectively sends the…
Barely a week ago, a group of local community activists, elected officials, and LGBT allies were celebrating the third year anniversary of the passage of South Bend’s Human Rights Ordinance. The Human Rights Ordinance bans discrimination in education, employment, and access to public accommodations based on race, color, sex, disability, national origin and ancestry. An…
The Indiana House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday that would shield individuals, businesses and other organizations who object to a law based on their religion. The bill — which opponents call a “license to discriminate” and supporters call “religious freedom” — won the support of the Republican-controlled chamber. A Senate version of the…
Indiana’s legislature is currently considering a number of so-called “religious freedom” bills that have arose in the months since the state was forced to begin recognizing same-sex marriages. Senate Bill 568 prohibits the state or local governments from passing laws that “compel a person to take an action that is contrary to the person’s exercise…
