Changes

*Numerous Christians, whether business owners or other people, such as [[Kim Davis]] or [[Roy Moore]], have been persecuted in various ways (lawsuits, loss of business, arrest, etc.) for holding on to their sincerely-held beliefs and refusing to bow down to the [[homosexual agenda]].<ref>Van Maren, Jonathan (November 21, 2016). [https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/if-you-think-christians-arent-being-persecuted-in-the-u.s.-its-because-your No Christian persecution in the US? Try telling that to these Christians.] ''LifeSiteNews''. Retrieved January 11, 2019.</ref> See also:  [[Homosexuality and Religious Liberty|Homosexuality and religious liberty]]

*Numerous Christians, whether business owners or other people, such as [[Kim Davis]] or [[Roy Moore]], have been persecuted in various ways (lawsuits, loss of business, arrest, etc.) for holding on to their sincerely-held beliefs and refusing to bow down to the [[homosexual agenda]].<ref>Van Maren, Jonathan (November 21, 2016). [https://www.lifesitenews.com/blogs/if-you-think-christians-arent-being-persecuted-in-the-u.s.-its-because-your No Christian persecution in the US? Try telling that to these Christians.] ''LifeSiteNews''. Retrieved January 11, 2019.</ref> See also:  [[Homosexuality and Religious Liberty|Homosexuality and religious liberty]]

*In a government report released in 2016, Martin R. Castro, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, stated that "The phrases “religious liberty” and “religious freedom” will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance."<ref>Showalter, Brandon (September 9, 2016). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/religious-freedom-code-word-bigotry-christian-supremacy-us-civil-rights-commissioner-martin-castro-169370/ Religious Freedom Is 'Code Word' for Bigotry, Christian Supremacy, US Civil Rights Commissioner Says]. ''The Christian Post''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Kellner, Mark A. (September 8, 2016). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/8/religious-freedom-religious-liberty-just-code-word/ ‘Religious freedom,’ ‘liberty’ just ‘code words’ for intolerance, U.S. Civil Rights chairman says]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/09/08/chairman-of-u-s-commission-on-civil-rights-calls-the-phrases-religious-liberty-and-religious-freedom-code-words-for-discrimination-intolerance-racism-s/ Chairman of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls the phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and Christian supremacy]. ''Religion News Service''. September 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Carter, Joe (September 13, 2016). [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/u.s.-civil-rights-commission-religious-freedom-is-code-word-for-racism-homophobia-and-christian-supremacy U.S. Civil Rights Commission: ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Code Word for Racism, Homophobia, and ‘Christian Supremacy’]. ''The Gospel Coalition''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

*In a government report released in 2016, Martin R. Castro, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, stated that "The phrases “religious liberty” and “religious freedom” will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance."<ref>Showalter, Brandon (September 9, 2016). [http://www.christianpost.com/news/religious-freedom-code-word-bigotry-christian-supremacy-us-civil-rights-commissioner-martin-castro-169370/ Religious Freedom Is 'Code Word' for Bigotry, Christian Supremacy, US Civil Rights Commissioner Says]. ''The Christian Post''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Kellner, Mark A. (September 8, 2016). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/sep/8/religious-freedom-religious-liberty-just-code-word/ ‘Religious freedom,’ ‘liberty’ just ‘code words’ for intolerance, U.S. Civil Rights chairman says]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>[http://religionnews.com/2016/09/08/chairman-of-u-s-commission-on-civil-rights-calls-the-phrases-religious-liberty-and-religious-freedom-code-words-for-discrimination-intolerance-racism-s/ Chairman of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls the phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and Christian supremacy]. ''Religion News Service''. September 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Carter, Joe (September 13, 2016). [https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/u.s.-civil-rights-commission-religious-freedom-is-code-word-for-racism-homophobia-and-christian-supremacy U.S. Civil Rights Commission: ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Code Word for Racism, Homophobia, and ‘Christian Supremacy’]. ''The Gospel Coalition''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

*In 2014, the mayor of [[Houston]], a leftist and the first openly-homosexual mayor of the city, briefly issued subpoenas on pastors, ordering them to turn over sermons concerning homosexuality.<ref>Starnes, Todd (October 14, 2014). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons.html City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Starnes, Todd (October 29, 2014). [http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/29/houston-mayor-drops-bid-to-subpoena-pastors-sermons.html Houston mayor drops bid to subpoena pastors' sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Hallowell, Billy (August 3, 2015). [https://www.theblaze.com/news/2015/08/03/houston-pastors-hit-back-against-mayor-with-lawsuit-alleging-their-religious-freedoms-were-trampled/ Houston Gov’t Subpoenaed Pastors’ Sermons. Now, They’re Fighting Back.] ''The Blaze''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

*In 2014, the mayor of [[Houston]], a leftist and the first openly-homosexual mayor of the city, briefly issued subpoenas on pastors, ordering them to turn over sermons concerning homosexuality.<ref>Starnes, Todd (October 14, 2014). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons.html City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Starnes, Todd (October 29, 2014). [https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/29/houston-mayor-drops-bid-to-subpoena-pastors-sermons.html Houston mayor drops bid to subpoena pastors' sermons]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref><ref>Hallowell, Billy (August 3, 2015). [https://www.theblaze.com/news/2015/08/03/houston-pastors-hit-back-against-mayor-with-lawsuit-alleging-their-religious-freedoms-were-trampled/ Houston Gov’t Subpoenaed Pastors’ Sermons. Now, They’re Fighting Back.] ''The Blaze''. Retrieved January 9, 2017.</ref>

*The Obama Administration and media's attitude toward a notable incident regarding homeschooling raised concerns over the future of the freedom to homeschool in the U.S. In 2008, a Christian homeschooling family traveled to the U.S. and applied for asylum in order to exercise their right to homeschool their children and give them a religious education.<ref name="HomeschoolAsylum"/> Very few [[mainstream media]] agencies reported this notable incident.<ref name="HomeschoolAsylum"/> The Obama Administration opposed the granting of asylum and sought to deport the family.<ref>Berry, Susan (April 23, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2013/04/23/german-homeschooling-family-seeks-to-stop-deportation-by-obama-administration/ German Homeschooling Family Seeks to Stop Obama Admin Deportation Order]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 24, 2017.</ref><ref name="ObamaAsylum">Berry, Susan (March 29, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2013/03/29/us-government-seeks-to-deport-family-threatened-in-germany-for-homeschooling/ Obama Admin Opposes Asylum for German Homeschooling Family]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 24, 2017.</ref> The administration argued in court that homeschooling was not a fundamental right and that the U.S. government could legally ban it and that the family's religious liberty was not being violated because not all homeschoolers are religious and because not all Christians want to homeschool (thus "suggesting that religious freedom is only the freedom to conform to a religious group, not the freedom to have individual religious convictions"<ref name="Looy2013"/>).<ref name="ObamaAsylum"/><ref name="Looy2013">Looy, Mark (April 29, 2013). [https://answersingenesis.org/religious-freedom/homeschooled-and-now-without-a-home-to-school-in/ Homeschooled and Now Without a Home to School In?] ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved December 24, 2017.</ref> While the Department of Homeland Security ultimately chose not to deport the family,<ref name="DHShomeschool"/> the Obama Administration's legal reasoning had a major potential impact on religious freedom, as it could be used in the future to ban homeschooling in the U.S., hinder parents from being able to give their children a religious education, and assert that government – not parents – has the final authority over children.<ref name="Looy2013"/>

*The Obama Administration and media's attitude toward a notable incident regarding homeschooling raised concerns over the future of the freedom to homeschool in the U.S. In 2008, a Christian homeschooling family traveled to the U.S. and applied for asylum in order to exercise their right to homeschool their children and give them a religious education.<ref name="HomeschoolAsylum"/> Very few [[mainstream media]] agencies reported this notable incident.<ref name="HomeschoolAsylum"/> The Obama Administration opposed the granting of asylum and sought to deport the family.<ref>Berry, Susan (April 23, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2013/04/23/german-homeschooling-family-seeks-to-stop-deportation-by-obama-administration/ German Homeschooling Family Seeks to Stop Obama Admin Deportation Order]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 24, 2017.</ref><ref name="ObamaAsylum">Berry, Susan (March 29, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2013/03/29/us-government-seeks-to-deport-family-threatened-in-germany-for-homeschooling/ Obama Admin Opposes Asylum for German Homeschooling Family]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved December 24, 2017.</ref> The administration argued in court that homeschooling was not a fundamental right and that the U.S. government could legally ban it and that the family's religious liberty was not being violated because not all homeschoolers are religious and because not all Christians want to homeschool (thus "suggesting that religious freedom is only the freedom to conform to a religious group, not the freedom to have individual religious convictions"<ref name="Looy2013"/>).<ref name="ObamaAsylum"/><ref name="Looy2013">Looy, Mark (April 29, 2013). [https://answersingenesis.org/religious-freedom/homeschooled-and-now-without-a-home-to-school-in/ Homeschooled and Now Without a Home to School In?] ''Answers in Genesis''. Retrieved December 24, 2017.</ref> While the Department of Homeland Security ultimately chose not to deport the family,<ref name="DHShomeschool"/> the Obama Administration's legal reasoning had a major potential impact on religious freedom, as it could be used in the future to ban homeschooling in the U.S., hinder parents from being able to give their children a religious education, and assert that government – not parents – has the final authority over children.<ref name="Looy2013"/>

*In February 2018, a judge in Hamilton County, Ohio, took away the custody of a 17-year-old [[transgender|gender-confused]] daughter from her parents because they would not allow her to undergo a [[sex change]] operation due to their religious beliefs.<ref>Multiple references:

*In February 2018, a judge in Hamilton County, Ohio, took away the custody of a 17-year-old [[transgender|gender-confused]] daughter from her parents because they would not allow her to undergo a [[sex change]] operation due to their religious beliefs.<ref>Multiple references:

*Berry, Susan (February 19, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/19/parents-lose-custody-of-daughter-for-opposing-transgender-medical-treatments/ Parents Lose Custody of Daughter for Opposing Transgender Medical Treatments]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 20, 2018.

*Berry, Susan (February 19, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/19/parents-lose-custody-of-daughter-for-opposing-transgender-medical-treatments/ Parents Lose Custody of Daughter for Opposing Transgender Medical Treatments]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 20, 2018.

*Tennant, Michael (February 21, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/family/item/28341-parents-custody-of-teenager-stripped-because-they-oppose-her-gender-change Parents’ Custody of Teenager Stripped Because They Oppose Her Gender Change]. ''The New American''. Retrieved February 21, 2018.</ref>

*Tennant, Michael (February 21, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/family/item/28341-parents-custody-of-teenager-stripped-because-they-oppose-her-gender-change Parents’ Custody of Teenager Stripped Because They Oppose Her Gender Change]. ''The New American''. Retrieved February 21, 2018.</ref>

*In October 2017, Wayne State University, a public institution, de-recognized InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as the student group required its members to be Christians.<ref>Parke, Caleb (March 7, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/03/07/michigan-university-boots-christian-group-off-campus-because-beliefs.html Christian group sues Michigan university after it is kicked off campus]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 7, 2018.<br>After a lawsuit threat, the university allowed back the Christian group:

*In October 2017, Wayne State University, a public institution, de-recognized InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as the student group required its members to be Christians.<ref>Parke, Caleb (March 7, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/03/07/michigan-university-boots-christian-group-off-campus-because-beliefs.html Christian group sues Michigan university after it is kicked off campus]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 7, 2018.<br>After a lawsuit threat, the university allowed back the Christian group:

*Parke, Caleb (March 9, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/03/09/wayne-state-reverses-schools-decision-to-boot-christian-group-off-campus.html Wayne State reverses school's decision to boot Christian group off campus]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 9, 2018.</ref>

*Parke, Caleb (March 9, 2018). [https://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/03/09/wayne-state-reverses-schools-decision-to-boot-christian-group-off-campus.html Wayne State reverses school's decision to boot Christian group off campus]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved March 9, 2018.</ref>

*The City of Phoenix enforced a law requiring Christians to serve at homosexual "weddings" even if against their wishes, and threatened a $2,500 fine and six-month jail sentence for every single day disobeying the law.<ref>Duke, Selwyn (December 4, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/30816-americans-can-now-be-jailed-for-not-servicing-same-sex-weddings Americans Can Now be Jailed for Not Servicing Same-sex “Weddings”]. ''The New American''. Retrieved December 5, 2018.</ref>

*The City of Phoenix enforced a law requiring Christians to serve at homosexual "weddings" even if against their wishes, and threatened a $2,500 fine and six-month jail sentence for every single day disobeying the law.<ref>Duke, Selwyn (December 4, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/30816-americans-can-now-be-jailed-for-not-servicing-same-sex-weddings Americans Can Now be Jailed for Not Servicing Same-sex “Weddings”]. ''The New American''. Retrieved December 5, 2018.</ref>

*In 2019, the State of [[California]] attempted to evict an elderly woman from a veterans' home because she led Bible studies.<ref>Tennant, Michael (March 11, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/31702-elderly-woman-threatened-with-eviction-from-veterans-home-for-leading-bible-studies Elderly Woman Threatened With Eviction From Veterans’ Home for Leading Bible Studies]. ''The New American''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.</ref>

*In 2019, the State of [[California]] attempted to evict an elderly woman from a veterans' home because she led Bible studies.<ref>Tennant, Michael (March 11, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/31702-elderly-woman-threatened-with-eviction-from-veterans-home-for-leading-bible-studies Elderly Woman Threatened With Eviction From Veterans’ Home for Leading Bible Studies]. ''The New American''. Retrieved March 11, 2019.</ref>