Tag Archives: ACLU

From one of my favorite YouTube commenters.

Windy City Times reports that formal complaints have been lodged against two Illinois bed-and-breakfast inns for refusing to host civil union ceremonies. Todd and Mark Wathen of Mattoon, Ill., allege that both the Timber Creek Bed and Breakfast and Beall Mansion Bed and Breakfast discriminated against them by refusing to host their legally recognized ceremony. The Wathen’s attorneys—Betty Tsamis of …

Both the ACLU and Ron Paul have come out strongly against the killing of America-born Al-Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki, whose car was struck with a U.S. drone missile two days ago. Paul calls the attack a “sad precedent” in American history. “He was born here,” said Paul. “He is an American citizen. He was never tried or charged with any …

An Alabama court is offering criminals the option of a jail sentence or mandatory year-long attendance at a church. The ACLU is looking into the situation, which is covered below by Christian television.

The anti-gay Alliance Defense Fund has entered the long-running battle to get public school systems to stop blocking websites that are useful to LGBT students. According to an ADF letter sent to several school districts, administrators are within their legal rights to ignore ACLU demands to lift the bans. Via the Christianist news outlet, OneNewsNow: The ACLU is presently suing …

The owners of Vermont’s Wildflower Inn have responded to the ACLU’s lawsuit filed against them for refusing to host a gay wedding reception. “We have never refused rooms or dining or employment to gays or lesbians,” they wrote. “Many of our guests have been same-sex couples. We welcome and treat all people with respect and dignity. We do not however, …

The ACLU has given Virginia’s Prince William County two weeks to respond to their demand that schools stop blocking pro-LGBT youth websites. The ACLU recognizes the need to screen out the heavy-duty adult stuff, their Virginia executive director Kent Willis said Tuesday. “But if you’re going to allow the Key Club and many other organizations to access the Internet, then …

The ACLU has issued a call for help in finding schools that block gay-positive websites but allow anti-gay hate sites.

Florida Gov. Rick “Medicare Fraud” Scott has appointed Christian activist David Wilkins to head the state Department of Children and Families, which is in charge of adoptions. Wilkins is the former head of a Baptist adoption agency which states that only “professed Christians” are eligible for consideration as parents. Gay rights groups are concerned that Scott’s move signals an intent …

NOM is demanding that Ninth Circuit Court Judge Stephen Reinhardt recuse himself from the three-judge panel set to hear the appeal of Prop 8’s overturn on Monday. NOM’s objection arises from a National Review article posted yesterday which points out that Reinhardt’s wife is the executive director of the Southern California chapter of the ACLU, that she made personal contributions …

The ACLU has filed a class action suit against the Department of Defense because soldiers that are discharged for homosexuality are given only half of the separation pay given to other honorable dischargees. The ACLU notes that this policy is not stipulated in DADT legislation and can be changed without congressional approval. The lead plaintiff in the case is Richard …

On the same day that GLAD has filed a DOMA suit in Connecticut, today the ACLU has filed a similar suit in New York state on behalf of a woman whose partner recently died after 44 years of their being together. The ACLU’s case addresses the tax inequities inherent in DOMA. From their FAQs page about the suit: On November …

A federal judge has ordered a Mississippi school district to pay $81K to the ACLU to cover their expenses and fees on behalf of lesbian teen Constance McMillen, who successfully sued her school for denying her the right to attend her prom with a female date. An earlier ruling awarded $35K to Constance herself, whose life story is being made …

The ACLU is suing Mississippi’s Forrest County Sheriff’s Department for firing a corrections officer after learning he is gay. On June 14, while at home and off-duty, Cooley called 911 after his boyfriend became physically violent. Among the officers who responded to the call was Chief of Corrections Charles Bolton, one of Cooley’s supervisors. After Cooley’s boyfriend told Bolton that …

The Westboro Baptist Church picketed the White House yesterday in advance of their appearance before the Supreme Court today where the father of a slain U.S. Marine is asking that his $5M judgment against the Phelps family be reinstated. Albert Snyder, of York, Pa., took legal action after church members picketed the funeral of his son. “My son and the …

Just in from the ACLU: We made our own videos to contribute to the It Gets Better Project, featuring several LGBT staffers from the national ACLU’s New York and Washington, D.C. offices. Staff from many different departments — including fundraising, database, and human resources — stepped up to contribute. The ACLU’s executive director, Anthony D. Romero, joined in the effort …

In another win in the battle to overturn DADT, late this afternoon a federal court ordered the reinstatement of Air Force Major Margaret Witt, who was suspended just before her retirement date in 2004 after her superiors learned she is a lesbian. Today’s decision only applies to Major Witt’s case. A federal judge ruled Friday that a decorated flight nurse …

A federal judge in Missouri ruled yesterday that a ban on political protests near funerals is unconstitutional. In 2006 Missouri legislators passed the ban in an attempt to thwart the Westboro Baptist Church. The primary state law had barred protests near any church, cemetery or funeral establishment from an hour before until an hour after any funeral ceremony, procession or …

On behalf of six local couples, the ACLU and Lambda Legal are filing suit against the state of Hawaii today in a demand for equal rights. The lawsuit doesn’t seek the titles of “marriage” or “civil unions” for gay partners. Instead, it requests that the court system extend them the benefits and responsibilities of marriage based on the Hawaii Constitution’s …