On August 15, 2016, a Federal Court in Maryland upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit brought by a 56-year-old injured music teacher at a Seventh-day Adventist school on the basis that, as a “minister,” she had no right to pursue federal claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Yesterday the California Assembly passed SB 1146 (48 to 28 with 7 abstaining), sending the amended higher education anti-discrimination bill back to the Senate for a concurrence vote to take place before August 31.
The California legislature updated SB 1146 yesterday to focus on Title IX-exempt institutions. SB 1146 now includes disclosure and reporting requirements.
By Bill Cork – It will be our fear, the fear we see around us today, that will be our undoing.
The California Assembly will likely vote on a controversial bill designed to pressure religious colleges and universities to abandon faith-based sexual behavior policies by the end of the month.
During my junior and senior years in college, I worked the night shift at a large Massachusetts state mental institution to pay my college expenses. I was officially in charge of the violent ward from 11 pm to 7 am and the only one on duty. It was a very choice job because it permitted me to study all night while being able to get adequate sleep following my daytime classes.
This week, both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have chosen relatively centrist running mates who are not well known outside of their states. Both Trump and Clinton, who have been battling high disapproval ratings and facing a close election in November, have made “safe picks.” But how do the vice presidential candidates compare when it comes to religious liberty?
Contrary to Trump’s representation, the voices of individual church members, or even church employees, have not “been taken away.” Instead, they may independently advocate for or against any candidates of their choosing, but they cannot use their houses of worship as vehicles for doing so.
On August 3, 2016, the California Assembly Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider a bill that religious groups fear would make it difficult for faith-based colleges and universities to operate in a manner consistent with their beliefs.
By Jason Hines, Ph.D., J.D. – One of the unfortunate things about the discussion that occurs whenever a police officer shoots another unarmed Black man is its monotony. I was planning to sit out the debate that would occur around the death of Alton Sterling. The reason I wanted to sit the discussion out is because we always seem to hit the same beats. Black folk say #BlackLivesMatter. The ignorant and the bigots among us say #AllLivesMatter. Before long, someone asks, “What about Black on Black crime?”