“Maine residents should never be forced to support religious education or discrimination,” said Alex J. Luchenitser, associate legal director of Americans United. “Diverting public funds to those uses would violate the religious freedom of taxpayers, parents, and students.”

“This proposed rule marks a new low in the Trump administration’s efforts to license discrimination against religious minorities and LGBTQ people. The rule would directly and gravely harm some of our nation’s most vulnerable people – children in foster care, senior citizens, and youth experiencing homelessness,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. “When it comes to discrimination based on religion, the Trump administration is saying it’s OK to ignore the Constitution. It’s never OK and we will continue to fight to uphold our core American value of religious freedom.”

“Televangelist Paula White is unfit to serve in the position of advisor to the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative," said AU President & CEO Rachel Laser. "She has no experience in government or public service and no history of undertaking the kind of interfaith outreach necessary for this role. Instead, she has operated in the shadows to influence public policies that discriminate against women, LGBTQ people and religious minorities, and the nomination of partisan judges who will support those harmful policies."

“We have less than a month before patients nationwide may be denied care because of someone else’s religious beliefs. This is about health – for ourselves, our children, our grandparents, our communities. No one should be denied medical treatment because of who they are, who they love or what they believe,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United

“Secretary Pompeo cannot use his official position and government resources to proselytize and impose his faith on the rest of us – those are fundamental violations of the separation of religion and government,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United.