Updegrove v. Herring

Last modified 2022.02.11


  • Status Ongoing
  • Type Amicus
  • Court U.S. Court of Appeals, U.S. District Court
  • Issues Discrimination by Businesses, Discrimination in Name of Religion, LGBTQ Rights, Why People of Faith Support Church-State Separation

Case Documents

Following a string of similar lawsuits across the country, a Christian wedding and event photographer in Virginia who wants to exclude same-sex couples as wedding clients filed a lawsuit in September 2020 claiming that the Virginia Values Act, a state law prohibiting businesses from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation, violates his constitutional rights to free speech and free exercise of religion.  

These lawsuits present a false dichotomy between respecting religious freedom and upholding nondiscrimination values. That’s why Americans United filed an amicus brief with other civil rights and religious organizations to explain that the kind of religious exemption the photographer is requesting would unconstitutionally favor his religion by disfavoring others. The Constitution requires religious neutrality for people of all faiths and none, and neutral and generally applicable nondiscrimination laws advance that goal. We pointed out that religious exemptions to nondiscrimination laws would actually harm religious freedom by allowing businesses to deny services to customers for practicing the “wrong” religion.

On March 30, 2021, the federal district court dismissed the photographer’s complaint, holding that he did not have standing because he did not show that he personally faced a threat of prosecution. The photographer appealed that ruling to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeal was then put on hold because the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a similar case, 303 Creative v. Elenis.

BREAKING NEWS

Americans United & the National Women’s Law Center file suit to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans.

Abortion bans violate the separation of church and state. Americans United and the National Women’s Law Center—the leading experts in religious freedom and gender justice—have joined forces with thirteen clergy from six faith traditions to challenge Missouri’s abortion bans as unconstitutionally imposing one narrow religious doctrine on everyone.


Join the Fight and Donate Today