Blog of Rights
Tyler
Ray

Tyler is a Legislative Assistant in the Washington Legislative Office, where he works on religious freedom and civil right issues. Ray is a graduate of Catholic University Law School where he served as the President of Students for Public Interest Law. He has previously interned for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the Mississippi Center for Justice where he advocated on racial justice issues in the areas of education, criminal justice, and voting rights. Ray received his bachelor's degree in Social Science from San Diego State University. Ray is a licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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02/13/2013
Using Religion to Discriminate

Protecting Constitutional Principles — Even After Disasters

By Dena Sher, ACLU Washington Legislative Office & Tyler Ray, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 3:47pm

This was cross-posted to the American Constitution Society blog. 

The impact Superstorm Sandy had on homes, businesses, nonprofits, and houses of worship across the Northeast was devastating. And still, in the wake of the storm, these institutions reached out to their communities to provide the help they could. At the same time, they began the process of their own rebuilding; for congregations, this meant repairing their sanctuaries and sacred spaces.

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01/17/2012

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. and Religious Freedom

By Tyler Ray, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 10:09am

This week we commemorate and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the values of freedom and equality that Dr. King fought so hard for.

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11/29/2012
Immigration Detention

President Obama: Close the 10 Worst Immigration Detention Facilities

By Tyler Ray, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 11:07am

The post-election immigration policy focus has rightly been on the pressing need to establish a path for aspiring Americans to become full members of their communities.

However, one of the most dire aspects of the immigration system is the ongoing crisis in mass immigration detention. Detained immigrants face widespread abuse and denial of basic rights, at enormous taxpayers’ expense. The number of detainees is unnecessarily high and must be drastically reduced.

As part of Detention Watch Network’s Expose and Close campaign calling for the immediate closure of the10 worst Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, the ACLU and its allies have sent a letter to President Obama  urging him to take these vital first steps toward reforming a detention system where immigrants suffer in deplorable conditions.

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02/09/2012

Could Your Taxes Fund Religious Buildings? Yes!

By Tyler Ray, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 4:50pm

It’s everyone’s favorite time of the year: tax season! But as millions of us file our taxes (and hope we don’t get audited), federal agencies are considering troubling new regulations that could spend your tax money to construct churches and other religious buildings. A long time ago, James Madison denounced government attempts to spend even “three pence” of our taxes for religious purposes. And Thomas Jefferson stood up against the “sinful and tyrannical” act of forcing taxpayers to fund any religion (even their own) against their will. A lot has changed since then, but not this longstanding First Amendment principle. The separation of church and state protects against advancing religion with taxpayer dollars.

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08/02/2012
Anti-Muslim Bias

A tipping point for Islamaphobia?

By Tyler Ray, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 2:25pm

Have we finally reached an end to widespread Islamaphobia and religious discrimination in this country? Maybe not—but we may be reaching a turning point where bigotry becomes so blatant that it requires a response from across the political and ideological spectrum. Take for instance the recent letters sent by Rep. Michelle Bachmann and four other members of Congress to several government agencies seeking investigations of prominent American Muslim individuals and organizations, because of alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. 

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02/15/2012

Every Child Deserves a Family, Including in Virginia

By Tyler Ray, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 12:28pm

Yesterday was Valentine's Day, a day when we celebrate our love for one another, whether it is between significant others, class mates, or a child and their parents. Growing up, I always received a small box of chocolates on Valentine's Day from my parents. I looked forward to those chocolates every year, not just for the sweet treat, but because of the love I felt from my parents. In a small way, it reflected the love my family shared for each other.

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11/14/2012
Predatory Lending

When a Dream House Becomes a Nightmare

By Tyler Ray, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 11:30am

For years, Rita Winters envisioned spending her golden years of retirement at her dream house in Southern Maryland.  However, as a result of events outside of Rita’s control, her dream home placed her in a nightmare situation. Federal action is needed to stop the nightmare that Rita and millions others faced while attempting to achieve their dream of home ownership.

Rita Winters’ Story

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12/07/2011

Looking for Simple Answers to Basic Questions on Faith-Based Hiring

By Dena Sher, ACLU Washington Legislative Office & Tyler Ray, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 4:04pm

It’s been almost three years of silence from President Obama on the issue of whether religious organizations may discriminate when hiring for government-funded positions. Let’s take a walk down memory lane to find out where we have been. In 2008, then-candidate Obama promised to restore anti-discrimination protections and end policies put in place by the previous administration that allow the federal government to subsidize employment discrimination on the basis of religion. If only. Instead, his administration decided that hiring discrimination will be reviewed on a “case-by-case” basis.

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12/13/2011

Giving Voice to Trafficking Victims

By Tyler Ray, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 6:26pm

Tomorrow the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing that will finally give voice to trafficking victims.

The hearing is being held at the request of some committee members because a previous hearing on trafficking, two weeks ago, focused on bogus claims that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) discriminated against the U.S. Conference of Bishops because it did not award the bishops a grant intended to fund services for victims of human trafficking. Instead, in awarding the grant, HHS decided to emphasize the particular health needs of these victims, who are often exploited sexually, forced into sex slavery, raped, and abused. The department therefore gave a preference to organizations that agreed to provide victims with the full range of reproductive health services.

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11/04/2011

Special Exceptions for Religious Organizations Threaten Liberty

By Dena Sher, ACLU Washington Legislative Office & Tyler Ray, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 10:35am

Last week, at a congressional hearing on “The State of Religious Liberty in the United States,” Rep. Jim Jordan asked a witness what the biggest threat to religious liberty is today. The response from Colby May, from the American Center for Law and Justice, a frequent opponent in our advocacy and litigation: whether or not religious organizations get special exceptions to laws designed to protect those who need government services. We agree with May that this is a critical issue. Needless to say, though, we take different sides.

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