“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.”

“As faith leaders, we celebrate the important work of so many faith-based child welfare agencies that support youth in foster care and families,” the faith leaders stated. “We are also deeply committed to religious freedom, but that freedom doesn’t give anyone the right to impose their beliefs on others or to put children in harm’s way."

The “Fairness for All” Act is anything but fair, and it certainly does not serve all of us. It is an affront to existing civil rights protections that protect people on the basis of race, sex and religion; creates new, substandard protections for LGBTQ people with massive loopholes and carve-outs; and upends critical federal programs that serve children in need. 

"One after another, three judges across the country have now made it crystal clear that it was unlawful for the Trump administration to misuse religious freedom to justify harming patients," said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United. "These decisions, coupled with Congress’ introduction of the Put Patients First Act, should send an emphatic message to President Trump that no patient should ever be discriminated against or denied health care based on who they are, who they love or what they believe.”

“The Montana Supreme Court protected America’s guarantee of religious freedom when it struck down private school vouchers last year. Considering 94 percent of taxpayer-funded vouchers in the state financed religious schools, the court’s decision ensures residents can’t be forced to fund religious education,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United.