Latest Human rights and civil liberties News
Southern Baptists vote to probe leaders' sex abuse response
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Delegates at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to create a task force to oversee an independent investigation into the denomination's handling of sexual abuse. Separately, the convention approved its...
Baker fined for refusing to make transgender transition cake
DENVER (AP) — A Colorado baker who won a partial victory at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2018 for refusing to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple violated the state’s anti-discrimination law by refusing to make a birthday cake for a transgender woman, a state judge has ruled. ...
'Practical work' summit for Biden, Putin: No punches or hugs
GENEVA (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden and Russia’s Vladimir Putin exchanged cordial words and plotted modest steps on arms control and diplomacy but emerged from their much-anticipated Swiss summit Wednesday largely where they started -- with deep differences on human rights,...
Retiring Kentucky lawmaker scoffs at congressman's criticism
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky state Sen. Paul Hornback, a prominent voice on farming as a committee chairman, said Wednesday that he won't seek another term in 2022 but downplayed blistering criticism he received from a fellow Republican, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie. ...
Biden, Putin discuss ambassadors, nuclear weapons and more
Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin of Russia spent more than three hours discussing issues Wednesday at their summit in Geneva. They ticked through their respective lists so quickly and in such “excruciating detail,” Biden says, that they looked at each other and thought, “OK, what...
McIlroy on board with ban on green reading books
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Count Rory McIlroy in when it comes to banning the books players use to help them read greens — even though he uses one himself. McIlroy, responding to reports the books carried by most players in their back pockets may be on their way out as early as...
Rift on Communion policy as US Catholic bishops open meeting
Divisions flared quickly on Wednesday as U.S. Catholic bishops opened a national meeting highlighted by a sensitive agenda item — whether to take initial steps toward a possible rebuke of politicians, including President Joe Biden, who receive Communion while supporting abortion rights. ...
Sen. Manchin proposes changes to Democrats' voting bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Joe Manchin is proposing an extensive list of changes to his party's sweeping elections and voting bill, raising hopes among Democrats that they could unite behind the legislation even if the measure is nearly certain to be blocked by Republicans in a showdown Senate...
Key Wisconsin policing use of force bill in jeopardy
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Assembly failed to vote Wednesday as scheduled on a bill that would set a statewide use of force policy for police, and offer protections for officers who report abuses, due to objections from the Milwaukee police union and despite winning broad bipartisan...
Columbia council bans conversion therapy for LGBTQ minors
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The city council in Columbia, South Carolina, has banned licensed therapists from offering conversion therapy to minors in attempts to change their sexual orientations or gender identities. News outlets reported that the body passed the ordinance...
