Latest news with #Lgbtq
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arkansas families sue to keep 10 Commandments out of classroom before new law takes effect
Arkansas families are suing to block the 10 Commandments from being displayed in public school classrooms as required by a new state law. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed a bill into law in April requiring the Ten Commandments and the "national motto, 'In God We Trust'" to be "prominently" displayed on posters in Arkansas classrooms and public buildings. The school mandate takes effect in August. The posters, which must meet a certain size requirement, must be donated or funded through private donations, the law states. Schools are allowed to use public funds or donations to replace any noncompliant display with a compliant display. A coalition of multi-faith families argued in their legal challenge that the religious display requirement violates their religious freedom and parental rights. Supreme Court Likely To Side With Parents In Letting Them Opt Out Of Lgbtq Storybooks, Expert Says "Permanently posting the Ten Commandments in every classroom and library — rendering them unavoidable — unconstitutionally pressures students into religious observance, veneration, and adoption of the state's favored religious scripture," the lawsuit states. Read On The Fox News App "It also sends the harmful and religiously divisive message that students who do not subscribe to the Ten Commandments—or, more precisely, to the specific version of the Ten Commandments that Act 573 requires schools to display—do not belong in their own school community and pressures them to refrain from expressing any faith practices or beliefs that are not aligned with the state's religious preferences." The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the families by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State and the Freedom from Religion Foundation. "As American Jews, my husband and I deeply value the ability to raise our children in our faith, without interference from the government," Plaintiff Samantha Stinson said in a press release. "By imposing a Christian-centric translation of the Ten Commandments on our children for nearly every hour of every day of their public-school education, this law will infringe on our rights as parents and create an unwelcoming and religiously coercive school environment for our children." Scotus Rulings This Term Could Strengthen Religious Rights Protections, Expert Says It names four school districts in northwest Arkansas — Fayetteville, Bentonville, Siloam Springs and Springdale — as defendants. The plaintiffs are asking for a preliminary injunction to pause the implementation of the law while the lawsuit is pending, according to the ACLU. Fayetteville Public Schools, Bentonville Schools and Siloam Springs School District told Fox News Digital they do not comment on pending litigation but "it appears after reviewing the court filing, that the lawsuit aims to challenge the constitutionality of a new Arkansas law that will take effect in August rather than challenging any action taken by [the school districts named in the lawsuit]." Springdale Schools did not immediately return a request for comment. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed a similar bill into law last year which has also faced legal challenges. A federal judge temporarily blocked the measure before it was to take effect in January, calling it "unconstitutional on its face." Louisiana defended the religious display in a federal appeals court in January. The Associated Press contributed to this article source: Arkansas families sue to keep 10 Commandments out of classroom before new law takes effect
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Broadway star Patti LuPone says Trump-led Kennedy Center 'should get blown up'
Broadway veteran Patti LuPone lashed out at President Donald Trump for his overhaul of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and called for the building to "get blown up," in an interview published Monday. In February, Trump fired several Kennedy Center board members, including the president and chairman, and replaced them with pro-Trump figures, who then named the president as chairman. In a post to Truth Social announcing the changes, Trump vowed to make the performing arts center "great again," by removing board members who did not share his administration's "vision for a Golden Age in arts and culture." Trump said that drag shows "targeting" children were one example of programming at the Kennedy Center that would end under his leadership. His actions stirred backlash in the theater and film world, with multiple artists resigning from their roles or canceling upcoming performances at the Kennedy Center in protest. Kennedy Center Cancels Lgbtq+ Pride Events To Align With New Priorities After Trump Fired Center's Leadership LuPone, 76, slammed the Trump takeover in new comments to New Yorker writer Michael Schulman. Read On The Fox News App "She's even angrier at the rest of the country," Schulman wrote. "She told me, more than once, that the Trumpified Kennedy Center 'should get blown up.'" LuPone also told the outlet that she wished that the Trump administration would "Leave New York alone." She has been an outspoken critic of Trump over the years. John Lithgow Says Trump's Return Is Biggest 'Disaster' For The Arts Since Covid-19 Ahead of the 2020 election, LuPone said she was considering moving to Ireland if Trump won. On the Tony Awards red carpet in 2017, she said that she would not perform for Trump if he came to one of her shows, "because I hate the mother—." Richard Grenell, president of the Kennedy Center, slammed LuPone's comments in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The far left has morphed into violent extremists. This is completely unacceptable – from the same people who claim to be for tolerance and diversity. Everyone should condemn these radicals," Grenell said. LuPone did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Fox News Digital, "President Trump cares deeply about American arts and culture, which is why he is revitalizing historic institutions like the Kennedy Center to their former greatness."Original article source: Broadway star Patti LuPone says Trump-led Kennedy Center 'should get blown up'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ahead of key Supreme Court arguments, here's which states have passed school choice measures
The U.S. Supreme Court will consider the establishment of the nation's first religious charter school next week, a case that could have key implications for school choice across the country. A huge majority of states have implemented some form of school choice in recent years, but only a little more than a dozen have adopted programs that make private school choice universally available to K-12 students. Here is the full list and a timeline of the school choice movement in recent years. Tennessee Ag Optimistic About Scotus Case After 'Radical Gender Ideology' Reversal In Lower Court Alabama passed its CHOOSE Act in 2024, which establishes an education savings account (ESA) that will soon be open to all families in the state. Arizona became the first state to offer universal school choice for all families in 2022, launching an $800 million program that gives parents $7,000 to put toward their children's tuition. Read On The Fox News App Arkansas's S.B. 294 established choice programs open to all students, regardless of income or disability status. The accounts allow families to spend state money not just on tuition but also on other approved expenses, such as tutoring, online courses and instructional materials. Florida's H.B. 1, passed in 2023, established choice programs open to all students, regardless of income or disability status. The accounts allow families to spend state money not just on tuition but also on other approved expenses, such as tutoring, online courses and instructional materials. Idaho launched its first private school choice program through a refundable tax credit. Families can receive up to $5,000 per child for private educational expenses, with $7,500 available for students with disabilities. The program is capped at $50 million annually and prioritizes families earning up to 300% of the federal poverty level (about $96,450 for a family of four). Supreme Court To Decide If Families Can Opt Out Of Reading Lgbtq Books In The Classroom Iowa's H.F. 68, passed in 2023, established choice programs open to all students, regardless of income or disability status. The accounts allow families to spend state money not just on tuition but also on other approved expenses, such as tutoring, online courses and instructional materials. The Indiana Choice Scholarship Program grants a voucher to qualifying K-12 students that they can put toward private school tuition. In order to qualify, students must be residents of Indiana and a member of a household that makes an "annual income of not more than 400% of the amount to qualify for the federal free and reduced price lunch program." Montana has two major school choice programs, but only one of them is universally available. The more restricted program is a standard ESA, but students must have special needs or have some other form of disability in order to qualify. The more expansive program is a statewide tax credit scholarship program that "allows individuals and corporations to claim a 100% tax credit for contributions to approved Student Scholarship Organizations," according to EdChoice. The average scholarship value for participating students is $2,190. North Carolina has a major voucher program that is available to all students across the state, but is limited by a budget cap. Qualifying students will get an average voucher value of $5,701 to put toward private school tuition costs, transportation, equipment or other costs associated with attending school. After baseline qualifications are met, vouchers are granted based on household income. Ohio's school choice program awards $6,166 for grades K–8 and $8,408 for grades 9-12 to qualifying students. Students must meet one of a series of qualifications in order to receive the award, and parents must submit their income information. Like Montana, Oklahoma employs a tax credit system to allow for school choice in the state. "The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit provides parents of students in private school with a refundable tax credit ranging from a minimum of $5,000 up to a maximum of $7,500 per child to cover the cost of private school tuition and fees, or it provides parents of students in home school a refundable tax credit of $1,000 to cover the cost of unbundled educational expenses," according to EdChoice. Tennessee passed the Education Freedom Act of 2025, creating a universal ESA program. Families receive $7,000 per student, which must first be used for tuition but can also cover other educational expenses. The program starts with 20,000 scholarships, with half reserved for students from families earning up to 300% of the free and reduced-price lunch threshold and students with disabilities. If at least 75% of scholarships are awarded, the cap will rise to 25,000 students in 2026. Utah's H.B. 215, passed in 2023, established choice programs open to all students, regardless of income or disability status. The accounts allow families to spend state money not just on tuition but also on other approved expenses, such as tutoring, online courses and instructional materials. West Virginia employs an ESA program to allow universal school choice for private schools, and it also has "intra-district and inter-district public school choice via open enrollment," according to EdChoice. The ESA program grants an average of $4,299 toward private school tuition costs. Wyoming passed HB 199 in 2025, expanding its ESA program by removing income restrictions and making it fully universal starting in 2025-26. Renamed the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship, the program will provide families with $7,000 and be funded through a $30 million appropriation. Participating students must be assessed on academic article source: Ahead of key Supreme Court arguments, here's which states have passed school choice measures
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Let us be the parents': Supreme Court should let parents opt kids out of LGBTQ school lessons, lawyer argues
Counsel representing a coalition of parents fighting for the choice to opt their children out of LGBTQ-related curriculum says the case is about letting parents "be the parents." "We're just saying if the school board is going to make that decision, let us have the chance to leave the classroom," Colten Stanberry, counsel at Becket and attorney for the parents bringing the suit, told Fox News Digital. "And so I think for my parent clients, they're saying let us be the parents. Keep us involved in the school decision-making process. Don't try to cut us out." The Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in parents' fight to opt their children out of LGBTQ-related curriculum. The issue at hand in the case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, is whether parents have a right to be informed about and to then opt their children out of reading books in elementary schools that conflict with their faith. Maryland Mom Taking Fight To Opt Child Out Of Lgbtq Story Books Before Supreme Court "Our case is not a book ban case," Stanberry emphasized. Read On The Fox News App "We're not saying that these books can't be on the shelves. We're saying we want to be out of the class," Stanberry continued. "And we're also not saying that teachers can't teach this material." A coalition of Jewish, Christian and Muslim parents with elementary school children in Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland brought suit against the school board after it introduced new LGBTQ books into the curriculum as part of the district's "inclusivity" initiative. The curriculum change came after the state of Maryland enacted regulations seeking to promote "educational equity," according to the petitioner's brief filed with the high court. The school board introduced books that featured transgender and non-binary characters and storylines, according to the brief. The parents' coalition stated in its brief that the Board "initially honored parental opt-outs in accordance with its own Guidelines and Maryland law" after parents raised concerns over the new curriculum. After the board issued a public statement in line with this stance, the petitioners stated that the board "reversed course" without prior notice. "Without explanation, it announced that beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, '[s]tudents and families may not choose to opt out' and will not be informed when 'books are read,'" the brief reads. Scotus Rulings This Term Could Strengthen Religious Rights Protections, Expert Says The parents sued the school board, arguing that the denial of notice and opt-outs "violated the Free Exercise Clause by overriding their freedom to direct the religious upbringing of their children and by burdening their religious exercise via policies that are not neutral or generally applicable," petitioners wrote. The parents cited Wisconsin v. Yoder, a 1972 Supreme Court case, to support their argument. In Yoder, the Court held that a state law requiring children to attend school past eighth grade violated the parents' constitutional rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment to direct their children's religious upbringings. Stanberry says that while this case is much narrower than Yoder, the issue at hand is "a right parents have had from the Supreme Court for over 50 years." The school board argued in its brief, "The record contains no evidence that teachers have been or will be 'directed' or 'instructed' to inject any views about gender or sexuality into classroom discussions about the storybooks." The school board writes that the storybooks were "offered as an option for literature circles, book clubs, or reading groups; or used for read-alouds." "Teachers are not required to use any of the storybooks in any given lesson, and were not provided any associated mandatory discussion points, classroom activities, or assignments," the brief continued. The lower court denied the parents' motion, finding that they could not show "'that the no-opt-out policy burdens their religious exercise.'" On appeal to the Fourth Circuit, the appeals court affirmed the district court's decision, with the majority holding that the parents had not shown how the policy violated the First Amendment. Supreme Court Appears Likely To Side With Catholic Church And Trump In Key Religious Exemption Case Despite the lower court proceedings, Stanberry shared they are "hopeful and excited" as the high court considers the case. "We think this court will really consider the case," Stanberry said ahead of Tuesday's arguments. "Obviously, I don't have a crystal ball. I can't predict how it's going to come out, but we're feeling good going into it." In a statement to Fox News Digital, the school board said its policy "is grounded in our commitment to provide an appropriate classroom environment for all of our students," saying the board believes "a curriculum that fosters respect for people of different backgrounds does not burden the free exercise of religion." "Based on established law, as discussed in our brief and by our counsel at today's argument, we believe the Supreme Court can and should affirm the lower courts' rulings," Liliana López, Public Information Officer for the public schools, said. "Regardless of the outcome, we are grateful for the opportunity to have our case heard by the highest court in the land. We await the Court's decision." The case comes at a time when President Donald Trump and his administration have prioritized educational and DEI-related reform upon starting his second term. The Supreme Court has notably also heard oral arguments this past term in other religious liberty and gender-related suits. "I think that this case could be seen as people of faith coming forward and saying, 'Hey, we want to be accommodated in this pluralistic society. So, I think it's coming at an opportune moment," Stanberry said. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in mid-January during its 2024-2025 term. Fox News' Bill Mears, Shannon Bream, and Kristine Parks contributed to this report. Original article source: 'Let us be the parents': Supreme Court should let parents opt kids out of LGBTQ school lessons, lawyer argues
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Seattle coffee shop owner who had city event canceled by LGBTQ backlash defends his faith
Seattle-area coffee shop owner and pastor Keith Carpenter wants his critics to know he doesn't hate them; in fact, he'd love to meet them and chat over a cup of joe. "I'd love for them to just get to know us instead of trying to shut our business down without even trying to know us," Carpenter told Fox News Digital. Carpenter is pastor of Epic Life Church and owns three Pilgrim Coffee locations in Seattle, Washington. His newest coffee shop, in the Shoreline suburb, had barely opened before it faced online attacks due to his church's support for traditional Christian beliefs on marriage. After the community learned that a "Coffee with a Cop" event would be held at Pilgrim's newest location, angry progressives flooded the Shoreline City Hall Facebook announcement with negative comments. "Coffee with a Cop" events are held in communities across the nation to strengthen relationships between local law enforcement and residents. Seattle-area 'Coffee With A Cop' Event Canceled After Shop Owner's Christian Views Attract Lgbtq Backlash Commenters demanded the city pick another venue that wasn't "bigoted" or "homophobic" and vowed to hold a protest outside the shop. One comment even called for Pilgrim to leave Shoreline, saying that Carpenter's views on marriage did not align with the progressive city's ideals. Read On The Fox News App In response to the backlash, Shoreline abruptly canceled the event, saying it was not their intention "to make any community member feel unwelcome based on the selection of the event venue and the values that the venue may or may not hold." Shoreline added that they were committed to making their city "welcoming to all." Carpenter was stunned by the city's response. "They could have made it really easy and just said something like, 'Hey, we decided to move the location,' and then just let it be," he told Fox News Digital. Tennessee Pizza Shop Faces Backlash After Declining To Cater Same-sex Wedding Carpenter also found the city's response ironic, because it seemingly excluded his business due to his religious and political beliefs in the name of "inclusivity." "If we really want to believe in an inclusive city, that would include all of us — not excluding 40% of the population who might have voted differently, or who attend a church, or hold different opinions about things," he continued. "That's not inclusive. What we've discovered is we're the ones excluded, without anybody really talking to us," he added. Carpenter said strangers online have attacked his character and spread "lies" about his church and business that he said couldn't be further from the truth. "They're calling me a megachurch pastor, pocketing all the money myself and forcing my parishioners to work for free… I lead a church of 80 people," the pastor said. Christian Physician Assistant Fired For Opposition To Trans Policy Has Day In Court "It's just a whole bunch of character assassination online from people who have never met me, who have never asked me anything, and I've never sat down with. They just assume that I'm hateful," he added. The pastor said he faced a similar incident last year when his business was abruptly shut out of its longtime partnership with a local elementary school, where he had invested "thousands of dollars and man hours," because a teacher complained his church wasn't "inclusive" enough. Despite these experiences, Carpenter stressed that he holds "zero animosity or hate" towards those who've judged him or hold different beliefs than he does and just wants the chance for the community to get to know who he really is. Carpenter said his church, Epic Life, welcomes people from all walks of life, including those who don't believe in God, or who are struggling with their gender identity or drug addiction. Seattle Business Owners Warn Violent Crime Is Happening On A Nearly Hourly Basis: 'This Is Madness' It serves the local community in several ways, including partnering with local organizations to provide free meals and coffee, and providing shelter for the homeless and addicted. He planted Epic Life Church and one of Pilgrim's locations on Aurora Avenue North, an area infamous for prostitution, fentanyl overdoses and violent crime. Carpenter said that when he and his wife moved to Seattle about 16 years ago, they were following a spiritual calling to bring "change and light" to this dark part of the city. "We often bring women off the street who have nothing on after being raped and abused all night into our office and hold them. We see people in body bags, friends of ours who have overdosed in hotels," Carpenter said. "We're taking care of a spot where the city of Seattle has no idea how to really encounter this." His church's mission is centered on living out John 10:10, which says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." "If we sat down without the mob around, we'd probably be friends," he said. "We really, truly believe that no matter where we've been or where we're heading, we're all pilgrims on a journey that is best shared with friends and maybe enemies over a cup of coffee." A spokesperson for the City of Shoreline told Fox News Digital, "The City is committed to being a welcoming place for all people, no matter who they are or what they believe." "The work of local government is mostly focused on the basics—it is potholes, sidewalks, and public safety. Coffee with a Cop is supposed to be a place where law enforcement can talk with residents about law enforcement in Shoreline. When the March 26 event got caught up in issues other than public safety, it could no longer serve its purpose and was canceled. Moving forward, we will only host these events at public facilities," the spokesperson article source: Seattle coffee shop owner who had city event canceled by LGBTQ backlash defends his faith
