Religious freedom is a core constitutional protection. NCLR works to protect the religious freedom of all, including LGBTQ people of faith, religious minorities, and nonbelievers, while opposing overly broad religious exemptions that would permit discrimination in the name of religion.
Faith & Religion
Photo Courtesy Mackenzie Harris, Faith in Public Life
Advocacy
Legislation & Policy
Common Ground Initiative
Nationwide
NCLR partners with the NCAA in the Common Ground Initiative to increase dialogue at conservative religious colleges about how LGBTQ inclusion and respect for religion can operate together to create safer, healthier, and more inclusive environments for student athletes—and by extension for all students.
Cases & Advocacy
Meriwether v. Shawnee State University
Ohio
Jane Doe filed a Title IX complaint with Shawnee State University after Professor Meriwether refused to use female honorifics and pronouns when referring to Jane in class. When the university placed a discipline letter in his personnel file, Meriwether sued the university claiming that the disciplinary action infringed on his First Amendment right to free speech and free exercise of religion, among other violations of federal and state law.
Resources
Press Release
NCLR Relieved by Narrow SCOTUS Ruling in Fulton Allowing Governments to Prohibit Anti-LGBTQ Discrimination
June 17, 2021. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia that the City of Philadelphia violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment by failing to give Catholic Social Services (CSS) an exemption from the nondiscrimination provision in city contracts, even though the contract authorized exemptions and the City had granted exemptions to other providers.
Publications
Just As They Are: Protecting Our Children from the Harms of Conversion Therapy
The Human Rights Campaign and the National Center for Lesbian Rights released Just As They Are, a comprehensive resource for parents on the harmful practice known as “conversion therapy.” See guide
