“This settlement advances the religious freedom of taxpayers and children across Kentucky. Vulnerable children should never be religiously proselytized or coerced in state-funded facilities," said Alex J. Luchenitser, associate vice president and associate legal director of Americans United.

“Abortion bans are the result of the crumbling of church-state separation. The First Amendment prohibits the government from imposing one set of religious beliefs on others, but Texas' new draconian law and other attempts by states to ban reproductive freedom do just that. Blocking abortion access is just one item on the Christian nationalist agenda that religious extremists and their lawmaker allies are pushing, to force all of us to live by their beliefs," said AU President and CEO Rachel Laser.

“Religious freedom and public education are two essential ingredients to building a strong democracy where we can come together as equals,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. “It has been Americans United’s mission for the past 75 years to protect both of these cherished values, and our new ‘Know Your Rights’ guides advance that goal."

"We applaud the Department of Education for its willingness to reconsider this harmful regulation, and for sending the message to colleges, universities and their students that this wrong may soon be righted," said Richard B. Katskee, vice president and legal director of Americans United. "We anticipate that the Biden administration will agree with us that discrimination has no place in our public colleges and universities – even if religion is used to justify it.”

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, and DLA Piper LLP (U.S.) are celebrating today’s decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, which makes clear that the First Amendment prohibits government officials and those who assume governmental duties from punishing people on parole, on probation, and in prison for refusing to take part in religious worship and activities.