Using Religion to Discriminate

With increasing frequency, individuals and institutions are attempting to claim a right to refuse to provide services or care based on religious objections. For instance, religiously affiliated hospitals could refuse to perform medically necessary abortions for pregnant women in life-threatening situations, or a landlord could refuse to rent to a family simply because they are Muslim. Through litigation, advocacy and public education, the ACLU works to defend religious liberty and protect people of all faiths from religious discrimination. Learn more >>

03/27/2012

Using Religion to Discriminate

Victory! Court to Bishops: Federal Help for the Most Vulnerable Should Have No Strings Attached

By Andrew Beck, Reproductive Freedom Project at 12:27pm

Once again the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has attempted to impose its religious beliefs on those who don't share them. This time, they did so in an attempt to deny victims of human trafficking access to reproductive health services in a federally funded program.

Fortunately, late Friday night, a federal judge ruled that religion isn't a license to discriminate and that the government cannot award a contract to an organization that denies services to trafficking victims based on the organization's religious beliefs.

03/12/2012

Emergency Contraception

Not Again: Two More Pharmacies Refuse to Sell Emergency Contraception to Men

By Chara Fisher Jackson, ACLU of Georgia & Olivia Turner, ACLU of Alabama & Brigitte Amiri, ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project at 3:30pm

It feels like we are banging our head against a wall. In recent years, pharmacies in several states have refused to sell emergency contraception ("EC") to men. We've recently learned of two additional incidents — both at Walgreens — in Georgia and Alabama. The discrimination in the Georgia and Alabama stores followed the same pattern that we've seen in Texas, Oklahoma, and Mississippi: a man attempts to purchase the medication for his female partner only to be confronted by a pharmacist who refuses to sell him the medication for the sole reason that he is a man.

02/17/2012

Contraception

Wanted: Women on Birth Control, Not Men on Ham Sandwiches

By Sarah Lipton-Lubet, ACLU Washington Legislative Office & Dena Sher, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 6:17pm

Yesterday's House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on the new HHS rule that requires insurance plans to include birth control with no co-pay (except for those held by churches or religiously affiliated nonprofits like universities) has caused quite a stir. A few observations:

01/23/2012

Contraception

ACLU Lens: White House Affirms Contraception Coverage for Millions of Women

By Robyn Shepherd, ACLU at 1:32pm

Last week, the Obama administration stood for reproductive rights and refused to broaden exemptions to a rule that requires employers to provide health insurance for contraception.

11/19/2012

Abortion Legislation

“It was all in their hands, and they just let her go.” -- Remembering Savita Halappanavar

By Eunice Hyon Min Rho, ACLU at 5:36pm

On October 21, Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old dentist who was 17 weeks pregnant, sought treatment...

08/02/2012

War on Women

War Against Women Rages On in the Federal Courts

By Alexa Kolbi-Molinas, ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project at 2:00pm

It’s been an interesting few weeks for women’s rights and health in the courts. First, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state can force a doctor to tell a patient that women who have abortions are more likely to commit suicide than those who continue the pregnancy even

American Civil Liberties Union