Freedoms

Virginia Health Officials Agree to Allow Talk Conversion Therapy, Sparking Controversy Over LGBTQ+ Rights and Religious Freedoms

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RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia officials have reached an agreement that allows counselors to continue using talk conversion therapy, despite a law enacted in 2020 that was intended to prohibit such practices for minors. The decision stems from a consent decree with the Founding Freedoms Law Center, a faith-based conservative organization that had legal grounds to challenge the law. Last month, the Virginia Department of Health Professions, guided by the state attorney general’s office, signed the consent agreement, which permits counselors to engage in conversation-based therapies without fear of disciplinary action. This move has raised considerable … Read more

El Salvador’s Controversial Foreign Agents Law Sparks Outcry Over Human Rights and Press Freedoms

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San Salvador, El Salvador — A controversial new law passed by the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly has raised alarms over potential restrictions on civil society and media. The assembly, primarily controlled by President Nayib Bukele’s New Ideas party, enacted the Foreign Agents Law amid significant human rights concerns, without engaging in public discourse. The law is framed as a measure to bolster transparency regarding foreign influence in public affairs and is intended to protect national sovereignty and stability. However, critics argue that it creates a mechanism for the government to monitor, control, and sanction organizations and … Read more

Rising Concerns: State Domestic Terrorism Laws Potentially Undermining First Amendment Freedoms

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Washington, D.C. — As state legislatures across the United States respond to escalating concerns about domestic terrorism by considering an array of new laws, concerns are mounting that these proposed measures could infringe upon First Amendment rights. Weighing national security against the constitutional guarantees of free speech and assembly, these legislative efforts highlight a complex balance between public safety and civil liberties. States nationwide are drafting and enacting laws aimed at curbing acts of domestic terrorism, incited by a rise in violent protests and extremist group activities. So far, over 24 state governments have proposed … Read more