Legal

Last week, President Joe Biden signed into law the misnamed Respect for Marriage Act (RFMA), which, among other things, repealed the federal Defense of Marriage Act and enshrined same-sex marriage into federal law. The law expands not only what marriage means in the law, but also who can be sued for disagreeing with its new meaning. The newly enacted law also opens the door to litigation against those who disagree with the new definition.

As soon as the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June, activists went to work mischaracterizing the ruling. Many used the decision—and particularly Justice Clarence Thomas’s concurrence—to claim that the Court could revisit other rulings, including the one in Obergefell v. Hodges, which created a constitutional “right” to same-sex marriage.

Should male athletes who identify as transgender compete in women’s sports? If you’ve listened to any major news outlets recently, you’d hear a resounding “yes.” Athletes who identify as—then compete against—the opposite sex are often celebrated in the media. Collegiate athlete Lia Thomas, a male swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania, was applauded after winning the NCAA women’s championship in the 500-yard freestyle in March 2022. CeCe Telfer, a male runner, was similarly commended after winning the NCAA Division II national championship in the women’s 400-meter hurdles in 2019. And the media cheered as Laurel Hubbard, a 43-year-old male weightlifter from New Zealand, became the first athlete to compete against the opposite sex in the Olympics during the 2021 Tokyo Games.

In case you missed it, Title IX is undergoing some serious changes. If implemented, these sweeping changes stand to change the landscape of schools across the nation. Read this blog for the Top 5 Things You Need To Know.

Choosing a doctor is about more than just location and convenience. Many people want to find a provider who shares their beliefs, who will take time to understand their situation, and who will consider not just their physical health, but their emotional and even spiritual needs, as well. For many Michigan residents, Christian Healthcare Centers fits the bill. Based in the western part of the state, Christian Healthcare is a faith-based organization that focuses on serving the community, including those who cannot afford medical care. But now, thanks to a Michigan state law and a pair of recent court rulings, Christian Healthcare’s ability to operate as a faith-based medical organization is in jeopardy.

In general, parents are best positioned to protect their children’s health and welfare. But not everyone agrees with that. Parental rights, the natural, God-given rights parents have to guide the upbringing, care, and education of their children are being challenged. In today’s culture, we can’t take these rights for granted, especially since some school administrators are intentionally keeping parents in the dark about the indoctrination taking place on their children at school.

Roe v. Wade is no longer the law of the land when it comes to abortion policy. Praise God! The Supreme Court has reversed nearly five decades of unconstitutional legal precedent and affirmed that there is no constitutional right to end a child’s life in the womb. States may now protect the unborn! What happens next?

We continue this month with our “A Vision for Freedom” series, highlighting ADF’s “Generational Wins” initiative. Generational Wins are significant legal and cultural victories, rooted in the truth of Scripture, that can change the trajectory of law and culture for decades. Generational Wins encapsulate five strategic goals that, with God’s help, will make a lasting impact on our country now and in the future. Click here to read about the Generational Wins we’re working to achieve together.

The story of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is a story of God’s faithfulness, goodness, grace, and provision. And it’s also a shining example of how God works through people open to His calling.

A mission statement is central to the identity of all organizations. And to advance that mission, institutions need people who align with their core values and actively carry them out. This is especially true for a ministry because what it believes is at the core of everything it does. And if its mission includes teaching and spreading those beliefs, then it is critical that the ministry—rather than the government—decides who performs this vital function. This is why our courts have recognized the principle of the “ministerial exception.”

It took six years and a Supreme Court decision, but Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia finally has a new playground surface.

The free exercise of religion matters, especially during a pandemic. It’s nice to know that a majority on the U.S. Supreme Court agree.

In the summer of 2021, the Biden administration made it clear that a national vaccine mandate was “not the role of the federal government.” But just weeks later, it went back on its word.

Earlier this month, the Senate passed the long-awaited infrastructure bill . While pundits on both sides of the aisle have spent months debating and covering the numerous provisions of this 2,700-page bill, one not-so-small piece of troubling language has been flying under the radar.

On April 11, 2020, Virginia’s Governor Ralph Northam signed into law the Virginia Values Act. The bill treats sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes in non-discrimination law.

The Fairness for All Act would violate the freedom of speech, conscience, and religion. The impact would be real, tangible, and immediate.

The deceptively named “Equality Act” would add “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes to existing laws banning discrimination in places of public accommodation, employment, housing, and by recipients of federal financial assistance.

The bottom line is that SOGI legislation like the “Equality Act” doesn’t offer equality or fairness. It offers victims.

Today, the “Equality Act” was introduced in Congress. With a Democrat-controlled House and Senate, the passage of this legislation is more likely than ever before. And President Joe Biden campaigned on the promise that he would sign the Act into law within his first 100 days if passed.

The essence of the “Equality Act” is its addition of “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes to existing federal nondiscrimination laws. While this might sound nice to some, this legislation is deceptively named. The “Equality Act” actually poses a devastating and unprecedented threat to the religious freedom of business owners and creative professionals nationwide.

It’s not often that you end up sharing a jail cell with your dad and your oldest son. But that’s exactly where David Benham found himself.

While the “Equality Act” may initially sound nice to some ears, this bill actually poses a devastating and unprecedented threat to religious freedom and the progress that women have made toward true equal treatment in law and culture

Proponents claim these bills would promote tolerance and inclusion. In reality, they would open the door to government-mandated discrimination, inequality, and coercion.

This past term at the U.S. Supreme Court was interesting to say the least. For the first time ever, oral arguments were conducted over the phone due to COVID-19 precautions.

When’s the last time you saw an ideologically diverse group of people come together over a common cause?

No one should be forced to pay for or participate in abortion – least of all pro-life groups like March for Life.

For over 25 years the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) has protected believers against laws and regulations that would force them to stop serving the general public and retreat within their walls. But now RFRA is being threatened. Congress has proposed the “Do No Harm Act”, which would strip the protections that RFRA provides for people of faith

In March, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate introduced the “Equality Act,” which adds “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” as protected classes to existing nondiscrimination laws. The House voted to pass the “Equality Act” in May. And while it might sound innocent enough, the “Equality Act” actually poses a severe threat to our First Amendment freedoms – our freedom of religion and speech in particular.

You’ve probably heard about them, or at the very least their aftermath. They’re called sexual orientation, gender identity laws – and they have been enacted in cities across the United States

Currently, 22 states have SOGI laws, and here at ADF, we’ve seen what a truly negative impact these laws can have.

2018 was a banner year here at Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). And we’re not the only ones who noticed.

Every time a person of faith is fired, criminally prosecuted, or threatened with the loss of everything she owns, the message is the same.

People can gain access to contraceptives and abortion pills without the government forcing religious and pro-life groups to provide them. But California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Virginia can’t seem to accept that.

We all know that the First Amendment protects us from censorship of what we say, but we often don’t think about the flipside. Our constitutionally protected freedom of speech also means that no one can force us to say things we do not want to say—especially things that violate our deepest beliefs.

More speech and more options is what will truly benefit all Californians.