Latest news with #LBGTQ
USA Today
2 days ago
- General
- USA Today
How the Supreme Court could still reshape religious liberty with decisions in two cases
How the Supreme Court could still reshape religious liberty with decisions in two cases Show Caption Hide Caption SCOTUS takes up case on LGBTQ+, inclusive books in schools Demonstrators on both sides protested as the Supreme Court heard a school district's case on parents' rights and LGBTQ+ books. The U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 on May 22, blocking religious charter schools. But the court could still reshape religious liberty in the United States with decisions in two other cases. One deals with whether parents in Maryland can opt-out of curriculum they find objectionable on religious grounds. The other centers on a Wisconsin case and whether a Catholic charity must contribute to the state's unemployment system. The U.S. Supreme Court's May 22 deadlock prevented the establishment of the nation's first religious charter school. A decision allowing such an institution would have dramatically overhauled long-standing norms about public education and religious freedom in the United States. But decisions in two other cases centered on religion and the First Amendment are still ahead, and experts say those, too, could reshape what religious liberty means across the nation. The cases – one dealing with public school curriculum and the other with tax exemptions for religious organizations – are "very significant" for different reasons, but all are coming before justices amid a broader trend of the court intervening to protect the free exercise of religion, said Daniel Conkle, a professor of law emeritus at Indiana University's Maurer School of Law. Plus, there's been an 'almost complete ideological switch on the court' in recent years, said Eugene Volokh, a professor of law emeritus at the UCLA School of Law. He and other experts attributed the shift to a conservative-majority that currently includes three Trump appointees. The court now tends to have a 'very minimalist view of the establishment clause and a very robust view of the free exercise clause,' said Erwin Chemerinsky, a law professor and dean of Berkeley Law. In the First Amendment, one clause prohibits the government from establishing a religion and the other bans the government from interfering with citizens' free practice of religion as long as, according to a federal court analysis, "the practice does not run afoul of 'public morals' or a 'compelling' governmental interest." The court's rulings in the remaining religious liberty cases will indicate whether that trend will continue. Maryland parents fight for right to opt kids out of LGBTQ school materials The school case surrounds parents' objections in Maryland to books with LBGTQ+ characters that Montgomery County Public Schools, which is based in the Washington metro area, added to its curriculum in 2022. Though the district initially accommodated parents who did not want their children to be exposed to such materials, it later prohibited the opt-outs. Parents sued the district, lost their case and ultimately appealed to the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments in April. Volokh, who co-signed an amicus brief with Yale law professor Justin Driver arguing against a constitutional right to parental opt-outs, said it is 'going to be potentially a very important case.' A Supreme Court ruling in favor of the parents could open the floodgates to countless other religious objections to public education materials, which Duke law professor Richard Katskee said stands to be "incredibly disruptive." 'Anybody who's run a school knows you can't provide individualized, tailored instruction to every kid based on that kid's parents' religious viewpoints,' Katskee said. There would also be logistical questions to address, including who's responsible for supervising students if they are made to leave their classroom during certain lessons and how to select alternative material that is inoffensive to their parents. Conkle pointed to the Supreme Court's 1972 ruling in Wisconsin v. Yoder, which found that a state law requiring Amish parents to send their children to public school until at least the age of 16 violated the parents' free exercise right. Though the Maryland case also revolves around the extent to which religious parents can shape their children's education in a public school setting, Conkle said a decision in favor of the parents could create a 'significantly different and greater administrative burden' than the ruling in Yoder did. There would be a greater risk of "administrative headaches" in granting parents the right to opt their children out of any element of public school curriculum they find objectionable, he said, than there is in allowing them to simply opt out of the public school system altogether. 'Can public schools really function in that kind of cafeteria-line way?' Chemerinsky said. Justice Elena Kagan questioned the broad scope of opt-outs during oral arguments. She asked what the implications would be if the court affirmed a constitutional right to effectively "opt out for anything" in public education. Lawyer Eric Baxter, who is representing the petitioners in the case, was skeptical that such a ruling would lead to countless lawsuits. "We just don't find these kinds of cases or these kinds of burdens where parents are bringing extreme examples," he said. "You know, parents with kids really don't have a lot of time to be suing the school board, and they're looking for a reasonable compromise." An amicus brief filed by Protect the First Foundation and other groups argued in support of an opt-out right, saying parents "live in fear that the religious, moral or ethical principles they attempt to instill in their children at home will simply be unwound at school." A brief from groups including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission said public schools notifying parents about new reading material and allowing them to opt their children out were "modest accommodations." They argued the district had violated the parents' right to free exercise of their religion, saying that the petitioners have a "religious duty to be their children's primary guardians in matters concerning marriage, sexuality and gender." Wisconsin unemployment tax case could be 'quite important' The tax exemption case centers on whether a Catholic charity operated by a diocese in Wisconsin is required to contribute to the state's unemployment system. The state's supreme court previously ruled that Catholic Charities, operated by the Diocese of Superior in northwest Wisconsin, was not exempt from paying an unemployment tax like the larger Catholic Church is. Religious organizations do not have to pay such taxes, but the state found the charity's work was too secular in nature to warrant a similar exemption. Justices across the political spectrum "appeared sympathetic" to the notion that that was effectively religious discrimination against Catholic Charities, SCOTUSblog reported. The issue is 'conceptually quite important,' Volokh said, though its application would depend on states' tax rules and may not have implications as far-reaching as the Maryland case. Most states, however, have laws similar to Wisconsin's that exempt church-controlled organizations "operated primarily for religious purposes" from contributing to unemployment programs, USA TODAY previously reported. The extent to which the charity's work could be considered religious was debated among the justices during oral arguments in March. Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that the law appears to emphasize "why they do it, not what they do," while Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson said what matters is actions, not intentions. "There are lots of hard questions in this area ... but I thought it was pretty fundamental that we don't treat some religions better than other religions," Kagan said. Impact of cases ultimately depends on how court's rulings are written Meanwhile, experts agreed the court's deadlock in the Oklahoma case leaves room for the question of religious charter schools to return to the court's docket in the future. Chemerinsky said it is "hard to overstate the importance of this issue," which epitomizes the court's shift to a wider application of the free exercise clause. "I think the only conclusion to be drawn is that when the issue comes back to the court, it will all depend on Justice Barrett's views," he said, referencing Amy Coney Barrett's recusal from the case. But when it comes to the two other religion cases currently before the court, experts said their impact will ultimately depend on how the rulings are written. 'The broader the rulings, the more destructive they are to public education and to religious freedom for us all,' Katskee said. Contributing: Maureen Groppe USA TODAY'S coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.
Axios
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Axios
GLAAD: Social media's hate policy rollbacks are "appalling"
Meta 's and YouTube's updated moderation policies are threatening the safety of and harming LBGTQ people, according to a new report from GLAAD. The big picture:"Recent years undeniably illustrate how online hate speech and misinformation negatively influence public opinion, legislation, and the real-world safety and health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people," GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said. "It's just appalling to see such extreme shifts away from best practices in trust and safety," Jenni Olson, senior director of GLAAD's Social Media Safety Program, told Axios. "Execs and employees at these companies owe the LGBTQ community answers about what their next steps are going to be to address these issues and stand up for the safety of their LGBTQ users," she said. Driving the news: In its annual Social Media Safety Index, GLAAD gave failing scores (out of 100) to all six of the platforms it tracks with TikTok at 56, Facebook and Instagram both at 45, YouTube at 41, Threads at 40 and X at 30. GLAAD's report analyzed 14 indicators, including having public policies that protect LGBTQ people from hate, harassment and violence, and that prohibit content promoting so-called conversion therapy. While all six platforms received failing scores, TikTok received the highest as it prohibits misgendering and deadnaming along with "conversion therapy" content, the report said. But the report criticized TikTok's transparency. "Major ideological shifts from Meta have been particularly extreme," Ellis said. The study suggested Meta remove "harmful exceptions" in its policy, such as their decision to now allow debunked "allegations of mental illness or abnormality" when it comes to gender and sexual orientation. Catch up quick: Meta relaxed its moderation policies in January, which immediately raised concerns about leading to more real-world violence. Meta's Oversight Board called on the company to investigate the impact on human rights. YouTube also removed "gender identity and expression" from its protected characteristic groups on its site. The company said its policies have not changed, but GLAAD noted "it is an objective fact that the gender identity protection is no longer expressly present in its public-facing policy." Between the lines: GLAAD changed its scorecard methodology, which negates year-to-year comparisons. The report has been released annually since 2021, as Axios' Ina Fried was first to report. The other side: TikTok, Meta and X did not respond to requests for comment. YouTube: " We confirmed earlier this year our hate speech policy hasn't changed. We have strict policies against content that promotes hatred or violence against members of the LGBTQ+ community and we continue to be vigilant in our efforts to quickly detect and remove this content," Boot Bullwinkle, a YouTube spokesperson, said in a statement to Axios. What we're watching: GLAAD offered five key recommendations in its report for the social media platforms.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Maren Morris' 'Dreamsicle' album invites healing as she embraces her new life
NEW YORK (AP) — When country star Maren Morris would voice support for the LBGTQ community, including publicly clashing with Jason Aldean's wife over gender-affirming care for transgender youth, she thought she was doing it as an ally. She didn't realize it at the time, but she was also speaking up for herself, too. 'I just maybe, internally, hadn't had the bravery to go there in myself, and say the words out loud,' said Morris, who recently came out as bisexual. 'When you spend the majority of your life in straight relationships and you haven't explored that part of yourself … is now the right time for me to tell everyone while I'm married that like, 'Hi, I'm also attracted to women?'' The Grammy winner, who's also stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter social justice movement and immigrants, has experienced drastic life changes throughout the past year, including a divorce with fellow singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd. These learning curves shaped 'Dreamsicle,' her fourth studio album, out now. 'There's a freedom that I've found in this album that's a new version of what I thought I had,' Morris explained. 'It's just more wise and lived-in. And maybe part of that's just like being in your 30s — you just don't care as much.' Following 2022's 'Humble Quest,' the 35-year-old singer-songwriter crafted 14 tracks filled with an eclectic, yet cohesive mix of traditional country, pop, soft-rock and dreamy bluegrass vibes. It continues the free-flowing, unconfined mix of sounds the 'The Bones' singer is known for. Production includes superstar pop producer Jack Antonoff, John Ryan, Laura Veltz and The Monsters & Strangerz production team, with Morris credited as a writer on every song. 'I was writing all through all of those personal losses and evolutions. … I was really just avoiding going home, and I would stay in my sessions late, and also write on days that I probably should have just taken a nap or gone to see my therapist,' Morris said. 'There were moments where I'm singing on some of these songs where I don't even remember doing the vocal because I was just in such a state of loss and grief.' Standout moments include the beautiful Americana-esque 'grand bouquet' where Morris sings, 'been so busy praying for my grand bouquet/not noticing you gave me a new flower every day.' There are also her staple poppy songs like 'cry in the car' that attempt to mask the pain and frustration of heartbreak behind upbeat tempos. But it's not all doom and gloom; 'The Middle' vocalist explores new themes, like on the previously released singles 'bed no breakfast,' and 'push me over' which she wrote with the electro-pop band MUNA. 'I went on a date with a woman for the first time, and I was just like I want to write about this,' she said, noting she felt safe exploring the topic with the queer-identifying band. While she says each song represents some facet of this new era, the title track provides the fullest picture. 'It was the first song for one of my albums that I wrote alone and I don't often do that," said Morris, who added 'Dreamsicle' came to her at one night as a 3 a.m. realization that change was necessary. "Everything that I thought was going to be permanent in my life, like in some form or fashion, either ended or evolved into something completely different.' Morris is currently prepping for her global tour in July, with more than 40 dates mixing headlining shows and festival appearances. Since coming out, she emphasizes she's received an abundance of love throughout Nashville, and has been overwhelmed by the support in the country music space that some have criticized as intolerant. More importantly, she hopes fans understand 'Dreamsicle' is not a 'divorce record,' but a celebratory album of healing. 'It deals with grief. It deals with the friends that helped patch you back together,' Morris said. 'It's important to show and to prove to myself that I can process and heal from this. … If I can do it, ... someone will hear it and feel like they can get through that day that they're in.' ___ Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Winnipeg Free Press
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Maren Morris' ‘Dreamsicle' album invites healing as she embraces her new life
NEW YORK (AP) — When country star Maren Morris would voice support for the LBGTQ community, including publicly clashing with Jason Aldean's wife over gender-affirming care for transgender youth, she thought she was doing it as an ally. She didn't realize it at the time, but she was also speaking up for herself, too. 'I just maybe, internally, hadn't had the bravery to go there in myself, and say the words out loud,' said Morris, who recently came out as bisexual. 'When you spend the majority of your life in straight relationships and you haven't explored that part of yourself … is now the right time for me to tell everyone while I'm married that like, 'Hi, I'm also attracted to women?'' The Grammy winner, who's also stood in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter social justice movement and immigrants, has experienced drastic life changes throughout the past year, including a divorce with fellow singer-songwriter Ryan Hurd. These learning curves shaped 'Dreamsicle,' her fourth studio album, out now. 'There's a freedom that I've found in this album that's a new version of what I thought I had,' Morris explained. 'It's just more wise and lived-in. And maybe part of that's just like being in your 30s — you just don't care as much.' Following 2022's 'Humble Quest,' the 35-year-old singer-songwriter crafted 14 tracks filled with an eclectic, yet cohesive mix of traditional country, pop, soft-rock and dreamy bluegrass vibes. It continues the free-flowing, unconfined mix of sounds the 'The Bones' singer is known for. Production includes superstar pop producer Jack Antonoff, John Ryan, Laura Veltz and The Monsters & Strangerz production team, with Morris credited as a writer on every song. 'I was writing all through all of those personal losses and evolutions. … I was really just avoiding going home, and I would stay in my sessions late, and also write on days that I probably should have just taken a nap or gone to see my therapist,' Morris said. 'There were moments where I'm singing on some of these songs where I don't even remember doing the vocal because I was just in such a state of loss and grief.' Standout moments include the beautiful Americana-esque 'grand bouquet' where Morris sings, 'been so busy praying for my grand bouquet/not noticing you gave me a new flower every day.' There are also her staple poppy songs like 'cry in the car' that attempt to mask the pain and frustration of heartbreak behind upbeat tempos. But it's not all doom and gloom; 'The Middle' vocalist explores new themes, like on the previously released singles 'bed no breakfast,' and 'push me over' which she wrote with the electro-pop band MUNA. 'I went on a date with a woman for the first time, and I was just like I want to write about this,' she said, noting she felt safe exploring the topic with the queer-identifying band. While she says each song represents some facet of this new era, the title track provides the fullest picture. 'It was the first song for one of my albums that I wrote alone and I don't often do that,' said Morris, who added 'Dreamsicle' came to her at one night as a 3 a.m. realization that change was necessary. 'Everything that I thought was going to be permanent in my life, like in some form or fashion, either ended or evolved into something completely different.' Morris is currently prepping for her global tour in July, with more than 40 dates mixing headlining shows and festival appearances. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Since coming out, she emphasizes she's received an abundance of love throughout Nashville, and has been overwhelmed by the support in the country music space that some have criticized as intolerant. More importantly, she hopes fans understand 'Dreamsicle' is not a 'divorce record,' but a celebratory album of healing. 'It deals with grief. It deals with the friends that helped patch you back together,' Morris said. 'It's important to show and to prove to myself that I can process and heal from this. … If I can do it, … someone will hear it and feel like they can get through that day that they're in.' ___ Follow Associated Press entertainment journalist Gary Gerard Hamilton at @GaryGHamilton on all his social media platforms.
Skift
05-05-2025
- Health
- Skift
One of Nation's Largest Trans Conferences Ends Annual Event, Latest LGBTQ Cancelation
As anti-LGBTQ+ legislation escalates in the U.S, events serving these communities are shifting away from in-person conferences. Some feel more cancellations are to come. After more than 20 years, the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference — one of the largest transgender-focused events in the United States — is ending its in-person gathering. Instead, organizers say they will shift to year-round LBGTQ+ programming under a new name: the Charlene Arcila Trans Wellness Collective. 'Because of the political climate, we made the difficult, but we believe, correct choice that providing a continuum of programs throughout the year is the prudent and appropriate decision to best serve our community. This isn't stepping back. It's stepping forward in a moment of need,' said David Weisberg, chief development officer for the Mazzoni Center, the event's organizer. The Human Rights Campaign recently declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans, citing a surge in state-level bills targeting queer and transgender rights. Other LGBTQ+ conferences have also been canceled. The LGBTQ+ Health Care Conference, hosted by the IU School of Medicine, set to be held in April, was canceled at the end of January. It has been an annual gathering since 2017. Mary Dankoski, executive associate dean, said the conference was canceled due to 'challenging' state legislation. Grant Cancellations May Impact Events The Trump administration's cancellation of hundreds of transgender research grants could impact future related events, said Cameron Curtis, CEO of the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association. Curtis warns that this is a troubling trend. "It's unfortunate that an in-person Trans Wellness conference has been canceled in a time when it's so critical for the Transgender community to have strong and unconditional support. I think more cancelations are to come," Curtis said. Ashley Brundage, CEO of leadership training company Empowering Differences and past attendee of the Philadelphia conference, sees the cancellation as a significant loss. "An in-person conference is an opportunity for people to come together. This is especially important in the transgender space as many don't always get the opportunity to be their authentic selves," Brundage said. "There is a stark difference between the first Trump administration, when anti-DEI sentiment was more covert, and today, where it's front and center," Brundage said, noting the shift has drastically impacted her company's business. Global Travel Concerns Mount Trump's anti-DEI policies are creating international concern. InterPride, representing over 375 Pride groups in 70 countries, issued a travel advisory. It cites a Trump executive order requiring passports, visas, and Global Entry cards to recognize only two sexes, male and female. "If your passport has 'X' as a gender marker or differs from your birth-assigned gender, we strongly recommend contacting the U.S. diplomatic mission before traveling to confirm entry requirements," the InterPride advisory states. At least six European countries — Germany, Finland, Denmark, the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom — have updated their travel advisories to warn transgender and nonbinary travelers about potential risks in the United States.
