Challenge To Pennsylvania House Of Representatives’ Legislative Prayer Practices Can Proceed, Court Rules

Church-State Watchdog Group Sponsoring Litigation Welcomes Ruling

Apr 28, 2017

A federal court today ruled that a legal challenge to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ legislative prayer practice can proceed.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which is sponsoring the litigation along with American Atheists, welcomed the decision in Fields v. Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Americans United And Allies File Legal Brief In Support Of Transgender Woman Fired By Michigan Funeral Home

Religious-Liberty Organizations And Faith Leaders Argue Business Owner Can’t Cite Religious Beliefs To Justify Discrimination

Apr 25, 2017

Americans United for Separation of Church and State was joined by 76 faith leaders and 13 religious and civil-rights organizations in urging a federal appeals court to rule that a Michigan funeral home had violated a transgender employee’s civil rights when it fired her for wearing women’s clothing in accordance with her gender identity.

Americans United & Fairness West Virginia File Lawsuit On Behalf Of W. Va. Same-Sex Couple Harassed By Gilmer County Clerk

Church-State Watchdog, Statewide LGBT Advocacy Group Say Gilmer County Officials Violated The Constitution By Subjecting Couple To Ill Treatment

Apr 17, 2017

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Fairness West Virginia and the law firm of Mayer Brown today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a West Virginia same-sex couple that was harassed and disparaged by a county clerk who cited religious objections to issuing the women a marriage license.

High-school sweethearts Amanda Abramovich and Samantha Brookover visited the Gilmer County Clerk’s Office on Feb. 3, 2016, to obtain a marriage license. Abramovich and Brookover were accompanied by family members to celebrate the happy occasion.

Americans United Issues Statement On Senate Vote Confirming Gorsuch To Serve On Supreme Court

Apr 7, 2017

The U.S. Senate today voted 54-45 to confirm Neil Gorsuch for a seat on the Supreme Court.

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, issued the following statement:

“Neil Gorsuch has demonstrated that he does not respect the constitutional principle of the separation of church and state, which is the foundation of religious freedom in America. I am gravely concerned he’ll vote to erode that principle and put one of our nation’s most essential liberties at risk.”

Background

Americans United, Muslim Advocates and SPLC File Lawsuit Against Muslim Ban 2.0

UMAA v. Trump Describes Unique, Diverse Harms to American Muslims

Mar 24, 2017

WASHINGTON - Today Muslim Advocates, the Southern Poverty Law Center, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Muslim community against President Trump’s second Muslim ban executive order. This lawsuit is the first of its kind to present a diverse set of harms to the American Muslim community not seen in other legal challenges to the ban.  

Americans United Applauds Federal Court Ruling Freezing Trump’s ‘Muslim Ban 2.0’

Mar 15, 2017

A federal court in Hawaii this evening put a hold on President Donald J. Trump’s latest executive order that bars issuing new visas to the residents of several Muslim-majority countries and suspends admission of refugees.

U.S. District Judge Derrick K. Watson said the Trump directive likely violates the church-state separation provisions of the First Amendment by singling out Muslims for ill treatment for no other reason than their religious beliefs.

Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn Announces Retirement After 25 Years At Helm Of Church-State Separation Group

AU Board Of Trustees Spearheading Search For Organization’s Next Leader

Mar 15, 2017

Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn today announced that he will retire at the end of 2017.

Lynn, who will turn 69 later this year, has served as Americans United’s executive director for 25 years. He was appointed by the organization’s Board of Trustees on Sept. 22, 1992.

“The last 25 years have been amazing,” Lynn said. “I’ve been honored to lead Americans United during what has been a challenging period, but I’ve decided it’s time for me to step down and for Americans United to enter its next phase of growth under new leadership.”

Trump’s New Executive Order On Immigration Is Still An Offensive, Unconstitutional Muslim Ban, Says Americans United

Church-State Watchdog Group Vows To Fight New Directive

Mar 6, 2017

President Donald J. Trump’s latest effort to curb Muslim immigration into the United States is just as offensive and illegal as his first try, says Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

“President Trump is attempting to dress up this monster, but it just doesn’t work,” said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. “This policy remains a destructive beast that offends our Constitution by treating people like second-class citizens based on their religious beliefs. It has to go.” 

Trump Should Drop School Voucher Crusade, Says Americans United

Church-State Watchdog Group Says ‘School Choice’ Programs Don’t Work And Undermine Public School Funding

Mar 3, 2017

President Donald J. Trump today visited a private Catholic school that benefits from Florida’s tuition tax credit program – a voucher scheme that diverts taxpayer dollars away from public schools.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State opposes voucher programs, including tuition tax credits, because they funnel desperately needed funding away from public schools and into private, mostly religious schools that lack accountability and often perform no better – and sometimes worse – than their public counterparts.

Americans United And National LGBT Bar Association Ask Supreme Court To Afford Transgender Student Equal Restroom Access

Organizations Work With Law Firm Hogan Lovells To File Court Brief Asserting Religious Beliefs Can’t Be Used To Justify Government Discrimination Against High School Student Gavin Grimm

Mar 2, 2017

Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the National LGBT Bar Association today asked the Supreme Court to affirm that a transgender student can use the school restroom that corresponds with his gender identity.

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