Free Republic

Less than six months after a violent brawl broke out at UC Davis over a speaking event organized by the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA, its founder, Charlie Kirk — a vocal transphobe and Donald Trump fanatic — will visit campus on Tuesday.

Transgender Americans face rising hatred and violence in a year that has seen 35 of them murdered. Last month, a gunman entered an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado and started firing, killing five and injuring 19. In that context, the last thing that should be happening in Sacramento is for a notorious transphobe to have a platform at one of the city’s most prominent venues. Yet that’s exactly what’s happening. On Monday, the Golden 1 Center will feature comedian Dave Chappelle, giving a powerful platform to a transphobe who has purposefully misgendered transgender people and publicly sided with the famously transphobic...

The Supreme Court’s decision Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade and severely limit abortion access across much of the country is not only an infringement on my human rights. It also violates my religious beliefs. Given that American Jews are one of the most consistently liberal groups in the country, it’s not surprising that an overwhelming majority of us — 83% in one 2014 poll — support legal abortion in all cases.

Placer County’s Board of Supervisors are thrilled that Hillsdale College, a small, ultra-conservative Christian university, plans to build a campus on farmland west of Roseville. The problem is that Hillsdale is an extremist institution, perpetuating alternative facts and harmful conspiracy theories. Placer County’s agreement with Hillsdale signals a deeper conflict in our county – that of local elected officials not only entertaining fringe beliefs but creating a space where young people can be radicalized against democracy. Instead of promoting knowledge and understanding in the best traditions of higher education, Hillsdale’s plans for Placer threatens more political and cultural conflict in...

It would be easy to shame Destiny Christian Church, its members and its pastor, Greg Fairrington, for selfishly ignoring multiple state-imposed orders to cease indoor gatherings — an especially reckless act given Placer County’s restricted intensive care unit capacity which recently dipped to zero. But in a spirit of compassion that seems more apt this holiday season, here’s my message to Destiny: I am appealing to your Christian values of moral responsibility and love for your neighbors and urging you to remain in the safety of your homes this Christmas. Because this is the only way to mitigate the spread...