
Blog
We can be pretty sure that each new day will bring two things: new threats to our civil liberties, and new stories of people standing up for their rights and winning. Behind every court ruling is a person. Behind every landmark law is a movement. Read the stories and hear the voices that ground our work.
Victory! Catholic School Held Accountable for Sex Discrimination
Dec 23, 2014
Emily Herx never imagined that she could lose her job for trying to get pregnant. But after working for more than seven years as a literature and language arts teacher at a Catholic school in Indiana, she was shocked to learn that her teaching contract would not be renewed: All because the in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment she was undergoing in an attempt to have a second child made her a "gr...
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Why Can't I Use the Boys' Bathroom at School?
Dec 22, 2014
My family contacted the ACLU and is working with them to file a complaint with the Department of Justice in order to make Gloucester High School safer and more inclusive to transgender youth while hopefully encouraging other local schools to do the same.
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To Apply or Not to Apply? That is the Question.
Dec 17, 2014
Immigration as a legal issue is so complicated in and of itself. But when you add people’s real-life experiences, it becomes even more so. So I think it is worthwhile for us to explore the answer to one of the most complicated questions: should I apply for an AB 60 license?
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Victory! Abortion Coverage for Women in the Peace Corps
Dec 16, 2014
A long overdue budget fix will provide Peace Corps volunteers and trainees with abortion coverage in cases of life endangerment, rape, or incest – finally bringing their coverage in line with that of all other federal employees.
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Detained for the Holidays
Dec 16, 2014
The mass detention of families is cruel, unnecessary, and unconstitutional. The Obama administration should stop using families as pawns and restore basic due process so that no mother or child is locked up arbitrarily.
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Celebrating Bill of Rights Day with Gratitude
Dec 16, 2014
While it feels like an odd time to celebrate, it’s also a time in which we need to support those in our communities who continue to fight for justice and equality. Which is why I was so grateful last weekend to spend time with our Bill of Rights Day Celebration honorees who inspire me because they step up every day.
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Racial Injustice and Broken Systems
Dec 15, 2014
Families and communities across the nation are outraged, grieving, and taking to the streets.Our hearts go out to the families of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, two unarmed black men killed by police who have escaped justice.And to the families of Tamir Rice, Oscar Grant, Alex Nieto, Andy Lopez, and too many more black and brown men and boys who have been killed by the police.The ACLU of Northern ...
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New DOJ Profiling Guidance: LGBTQ-Inclusive, But Inadequate
Dec 10, 2014
With the backdrop of a national, youth-led movement demanding reform of a system of policing that too often approaches communities of color like an occupying force, the Department of Justice on Monday released updated profiling guidance for federal law enforcement agencies. The guidance is explicitly inclusive of both sexual orientation and gender identity – an aspect that is of critical importanc...
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As If! Women Aren’t Clueless, Even If Politicians Continue to Act That Way
Dec 10, 2014
Late last week, the Arkansas Medical Board initially voted 7-6 not to intrude into the relationship between women and their doctors. They declined to require medical providers to perform an ultrasound exam for a woman seeking abortion care, and then – regardless of the patient's wishes – to inform her if the exam detected a fetal heart tone.
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Academic Freedom and the Right to Remain Anonymous Online
Dec 10, 2014
We are the founders of PubPeer.com, an online forum for scientific discussion of research scholarship. We and many of the users of our website are anonymous. That anonymity is important for free speech, for academic freedom, and for scientific inquiry. But it’s being threatened, which is why we’re going to court to defend the First Amendment right to anonymity.
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It's Time for DHS to Get with the Program
Dec 10, 2014
Last month President Obama announced his decision to shelter certain immigrants from deportation through executive action. This was a step in the right direction and a win for advocates and the immigrant community. But while we welcome President Obama’s move, we’re still concerned by the countless problems that continue to plague our immigration system.
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