Free Republic

Adding ‘sexual orientation’ and ‘gender identity’ to the list of protected classes may seem straightforward enough, but the proposed law does more—much more.The statutory language instead provides for an extreme remaking of all aspects of society, destroys the promise of equality for women, and threatens religious liberty and the privacy rights of all Americans, especially children. The proposed law also will upend state and federal protections of the unborn—yes, the Equality Act is about abortion too.Here are the five facts about the Equality Act Americans need to know.1. The Equality Act Is Deceptively SimpleThe statutory language of the Equality Act...

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The Trump administration is considering a far-reaching rollback of civil rights law that would dilute federal rules against discrimination in education, housing and other aspects of American life, people familiar with the discussions said. A recent internal Justice Department memo directed senior civil rights officials to examine how decades-old “disparate impact” regulations might be changed or removed in their areas of expertise, and what the impact might be, according to people familiar with the matter. Similar action is being considered at the Education Department and is underway at the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The Religious Freedom Anti-Discrimination Act (HB 2422) passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives by a vote of 88-0 today. If you are from Oklahoma, and possibly even if you are not, you may ask what does HB 2422 do, exactly. It's simple, really. This legislation would require schools to treat expressions of faith by students the same as they treat any other expressions by students. Here is a better description of what the bill would do, along with comments from its author, State Representative John Bennett. The Okie Blaze - The bill would require school districts to adopt a “Model Religious...

I've been doing some thinking in light of recent events where homosexuals have brought suits against Christian-owned businesses because they wouldn't cater to their "weddings". It seems to me that the laws in place violate, at least, the First Amendment protections for freedom of religion. Anyone else get this feeling?

It looked like a stunning reversal: the same church that helped defeat gay marriage in California standing with gay-rights activists on an anti-discrimination law in its own backyard. On Tuesday night, after a series of clandestine meetings between local gay-rights backers and Mormons in Salt Lake City, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced it would support proposed city laws that would prohibit discrimination against gays in housing and employment. The ordinances passed and history was made: It marked the first time the Salt Lake City-based church had supported gay-rights legislation.

Look Who's Discriminating Now Last week, thanks to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the federal government took a giant leap toward encroaching on the religious liberty of Catholics. Reuben Daniels Jr., director of the EEOC District Office in Charlotte, N.C, ruled that a small Catholic college discriminated against female employees by refusing to cover prescription contraceptives in its health insurance plan. With health-care reform looming before the country, this ruling is a bad omen for people of faith. In 2007, eight faculty members filed a complaint against Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, N.C., claiming that the school's decision to exclude...

<p>GENEVA (AP) - Islamic proposals to ban criticism of religion, which have gathered strength since the publication of cartoons of the prophet Muhammad two years ago, threaten to derail an already troubled U.N. anti-racism conference planned for next year. The European Union rejects suggestions by Algeria—backed by other Muslim and African countries—that limits on free speech are needed to stop the publication of offensive articles and images.</p>

Court rules BDSM case can be heard HUMAN RIGHTS / Judges reject claim that kinky sex not protected Jeremy Hainsworth / Xtra West / Wednesday, April 23, 2008 The BC Court of Appeal has ruled that the province's Human Rights Tribunal can resume hearing a complaint of alleged discrimination on the basis of BDSM practices to determine whether BDSM is protected from discrimination under the Human Rights Code and, if so, whether any discrimination took place in this case. In an Apr 8 decision, Justice Anne Rowles ruled that the BC Human Rights Tribunal was right to agree to hear...

It is one thing to discriminate without just cause. But take a closer look at GLSEN. It is not a gay rights group focused on obtaining the right to marry (though CUA would be justified in forbidding such an organization from participating in their online job search tool for students). It is not an apolitical organization serving to provide a social network of any kind. It is the nation's leading organization pushing the homosexual agenda in the education system, seeking to teach respect and tolerance of homosexual and transgender individuals in schools. They organize events and policy reform within the...

Any seasoned Washington veteran will tell you that a successful political movement frequently earns its victory thanks to the assemblance of strange bedfellows and partnerships. And the more difficult the battle, the stranger that coalition may need to be. At the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's 25th anniversary conference in late May, it was clear that the prevailing viewpoint on the Middle East was what could be generously described as “pro-Palestinian.” However, it was in that crowd—a mix of Muslims and Christians—that maverick Muslim Kamal Nawash (a Palestinian by birth who rarely discusses Israel) found a surprisingly warm reception from many of...

The Supreme Court hears arguments today in a case that raises important issues about who is covered by antidiscrimination law. An Alabama girls' basketball coach lost his position in 2001 after complaining that his team was being discriminated against. He sued under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in schools receiving federal funds. The school argued, in response, that the coach was not part of the class that Congress intended to protect with the law. The court should hold that he is covered by Title IX, because he is alleging that he lost his position as a result...

Included in Omnibus Spending Bill Nearing Passage in Congress Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004 -- The House of Representatives today (Saturday Nov. 20) takes up an omnibus spending bill that contains an important provision strongly supported by National Right to Life, known as the "Hyde-Weldon anti-discrimination amendment" or "Hyde-Weldon conscience amendment." The House is expected to pass the bill Saturday afternoon. The Senate will then begin debate on the bill. A number of pro-abortion senators, including Barbara Boxer (D-Ca.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Ca.) and Olympia Snowe (R-Me.), are objecting to inclusion of the Hyde-Weldon provision in the omnibus bill. The bill can...

Around 50 retired US diplomats have written to US President George Bush to complain about America's policy towards the Middle East. The letter is similar to one written by 52 former British diplomats to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair last week. The former US diplomats complained that President Bush's approach is losing the US "credibility, prestige and friends". They criticised what they say is Washington's unabashed support for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. The American diplomats said they were deeply concerned by Mr Bush's endorsement last month of Mr Sharon's plan to withdraw unilaterally from Gaza. 'Great danger' They were...

<p>That is what one Southern California school district is trying to decide and the outcome could cost it millions.</p> <p>So far the Westminster School District (search) is the only district in California refusing to adopt an updated anti-discrimination policy that adds the word "sex" to guidelines that already include the word "gender."</p>

VANCOUVER (CP) - Muslims with an anti-discrimination group on Friday condemned an article in a B.C. newspaper that accused Jews of faking the Holocaust and staging the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. "I think the article is just atrocious, it's certainly hateful. I would certainly call it vile and malicious and serves only to scapegoat the Jewish community," said Riad Saloojee, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations Canada. "I think it's particularly disheartening that it's in a Muslim newspaper. This sort of hateful diatribe is really at odds with Islam." The B.C. government's hate crimes team is investigating a...

<p>A federal lawsuit filed on Dec. 30 will determine whether Rutgers University can de facto ban Christian student groups. It may set national policy.</p> <p>On campuses across North America, Christian student groups are being ordered to either accept leaders who violate their beliefs or lose the official "recognition" that allows them access to university funding and facilities.</p>

Even if Greene's opinion on the Middle East has you miffed, keep reading... INSITE  - Rob Greene's Interactive version of his popular 'Insight' radio column broadcast on Radio Netherlands English Language Service.  I know I should perhaps tell you what I feel about Sharon and Arafat and Jenin and Ramallah and the Church of the Nativity and suicide bombings and Israel's war against terrorism but I'm so heartily sick of the whole matter that I wish it would all just go away. Suffice it to say that, with the involvement of the United States and, to a lesser extent, the...