The separation of church and state protects not only your right to believe as you choose – it protects your right to live as you choose – as your authentic self. Who you love, the family you make, the way you parent if you choose to have children, the healthcare you decide on, how you dress, and what you choose to call yourself are all protected by the separation of church and state.
Church-state separation means that Christian Nationalists and their lawmaker allies can’t use our country’s laws to impose their narrow beliefs on others or misuse religious freedom to deny LGBTQ+ people equal rights. But that is exactly what is happening.
Learn more about the important issues we face
What you should know about the issues
Visit the timeline of important milestones
What you can do today to defend LGBTQ+ equality
The current Supreme Court has allowed this misuse of religious freedom to discriminate in its recent decisions. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration is implementing Project 2025, which includes policies that target marriage equality, gender identity, what constitutes a family, and calls for removing the laws and policies that protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in schools, workplaces, healthcare, and social services.
There’s no sugarcoating it: The next few years will not be easy. But Americans United has been fighting for freedom without favor and equality without exception for nearly 80 years. Together, we can fight for a national recommitment to the separation of church and state that protects us all.
The anti-LGBTQ+ movement has deep roots in white Christian Nationalism. Concerned by the growing support for the civil rights movement, religious extremists Jerry Falwell, Paul Weyrich, Tim LaHaye and Richard Viguerie founded the Moral Majority, merging conservative evangelical Christianity with political activism. This grew into the billion dollar Shadow Network of religious extremists AU is battling today. That network has strategically used anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and religious doctrine to mobilize their base, shape public policy and urge courts to give their narrow religious beliefs the power of law.
The Trump administration and its Christian Nationalist allies want to stop the advancement of LGBTQ+ rights and erase the gains we have made. But the foundational principle of separation of church and state protects LGBTQ+ people from these attacks by promising freedom without favor and equality without exception.
The Constitution isn’t perfect, but America’s Founders got a few things right, including church-state separation and religious freedom. They understood that when the government favors one religion over others, it favors a few while excluding everyone else. Religious freedom is meant to be a shield to protect the rights of everyone, not a sword to harm others. “Everyone should have equal access to goods and services, regardless of who they love, who they are, how they worship, or what they look like. Our Constitution’s promise of church-state separation means that religious freedom cannot be turned into a license to discriminate,” said Rachel Laser, president and CEO of Americans United.
Our nation promises everyone the freedom to believe as they want, but our laws cannot allow anyone to use their religious beliefs to harm others.
That’s why Americans United brings together people of all religions and none to fight in the courts, legislatures, and the public square for freedom without favor and equality without exception.
When you join the Action Network, you will be notified of actions you can take in your community to protect church-state separation. These actions can include legislative and legal advocacy, outreach opportunities, invitations to attend special meetings, briefings, and training sessions. AU also provides virtual opportunities to hone your skills as an advocate.
You’ll receive 6-12 messages per year. Just look for [AU-AN] in the subject line and take the actions that are right for you!
