Valerie Richardson
Articles by Valerie Richardson
Memories Pizza crowdfunding drive raises $842,387: ‘I’m so grateful’
A staggering $842,387 was raised in just two days for the owners of Memories Pizza in Walkerton, Indiana, after they came under attack for saying they would refuse for religious reasons to cater a hypothetical gay wedding. Published April 4, 2015
Video on Muslim bakers points to double standard on gay weddings
It turns out some Muslim-owned bakeries are no more willing to create wedding cakes for same-sex ceremonies than their Christian counterparts. Published April 3, 2015
Arkansas, Indiana religious freedom bill revisions spark more debates
Arkansas and Indiana lawmakers rushed Thursday to reconfigure their much-maligned religious freedom bills, striking compromises that mollified some critics but also touched off a new round of debate between religious conservatives and gay rights advocates. Published April 2, 2015
Indiana pizzeria owners close doors, may leave town after gay-wedding attacks
Supporters of the Indiana family under attack for refusing to cater a hypothetical gay wedding stepped up Thursday, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and dropping by Memories Pizza even though it remained closed after a rash of threats. Published April 2, 2015
Carly Fiorina chides business leaders over religious-freedom bills
Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina chided business leaders Wednesday for rushing to oppose the Religious Freedom Restoration Act measures under attack in Arkansas and Indiana "before checking their facts." Published April 2, 2015
Asa Hutchinson, Arkansas governor, sends religious-freedom bill back to legislature for ‘remedy’
No business wants the kind of publicity that was heaped Wednesday upon Memories Pizza, which may explain in part why so many companies have rushed to oppose the Religious Freedom Restoration Act measures in Arkansas and Indiana. Published April 1, 2015
Arkansas sends religious-freedom bill to governor despite Indiana uproar
The Arkansas state legislature, undeterred by the outcry over Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act, jumped into the fierce national debate over religious liberty and gay rights by giving final approval Tuesday to its own version of the law. Published March 31, 2015
Religious freedom laws helped Muslims, Indians
So far the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has never worked as a defense for Christian bakers embroiled in lawsuits over gay weddings, but for a handful of Apache, Muslim and Sikh plaintiffs, it's been a godsend. Published March 31, 2015
Indiana law against LGBT discrimination stronger than in most states
Indiana actually provides more LGBT anti-discrimination protection than most other states with Religious Freedom Restoration Act measures, contrary to the narrative pushed by critics of Indiana's newly signed law. Published March 31, 2015
Indiana religious freedom law defended by 2016 Republican hopefuls
A throng of likely Republican presidential contenders came to the defense Monday of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's signing of the state's religious-freedom law, signaling a sharp contrast with Democrats on an issue that could extend into the 2016 race. Published March 30, 2015
Indiana religious freedom act criticized by officials in states with similar laws
Elected officials in Connecticut and Illinois throwing stones at Indiana's religious freedom law are running up against those who say they live in glass houses. Published March 30, 2015
Rahm Emanuel tries to lure firms from Indiana over law that Illinois already has
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has engaged in some interstate payback by attempting to lure Indiana companies over the state's newly signed religious-freedom bill, but what he doesn't mention is that Illinois already has a similar law. Published March 30, 2015
Obama anti-Israel sentiment spreads to Virginia State Bar Association
The White House is coming under increasing fire for fueling anti-Israel sentiment in the United States, particularly among Democrats, stoked by President Obama's feud with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Published March 29, 2015
Martin O’Malley angers Hillary Clinton adviser with ‘dynasty’ remark
There was jostling Sunday on the Democratic presidential campaign trail between a top Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter and ex-Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley after he took a swipe at the former secretary of state, saying the presidency isn't a "crown to be passed between two families." Published March 29, 2015
White House hits Indiana’s religious freedom law amid criticism of Obama hypocrisy
White House spokesman Josh Earnest took aim Sunday at Indiana's religious-freedom law, saying it appears to "legitimize discrimination," as critics said President Obama voted for a similar law as an Illinois state senator. Published March 29, 2015
Court allows Wisconsin Amish family to remain in home for now
The Amish don't have telephones, so Erick Woods drove 45 minutes to give the Borntregers the news: They won a reprieve Friday from an order to vacate their Wisconsin home after refusing to comply with updated building-code rules for religious reasons. Published March 28, 2015
Indiana singled out for boycott over religious-liberty law in 19 other states
Indiana is being threatened with an economic boycott after Gov. Mike Pence signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Thursday, even though 19 other states and the federal government have already passed similar laws. Published March 27, 2015
Amish Wisconsin home gets police yellow tape
Law-enforcement officers strung yellow police tape across the door of a Wisconsin Amish home and declared it unfit for habitation Thursday in a dispute over the family's refusal to comply with county rules on modern appliances such as smoke alarms. Published March 26, 2015
Germanwings France plane crash sparks rush to embrace 2 pilots in cockpit rule
Had German carrier Lufthansa followed U.S. protocols on pilots in the cockpit, the deadly crash that claimed 150 lives this week might have been avoided. Published March 26, 2015
Religious exemption sought for Amish after Wisconsin family forced out of home
The outcry over a Wisconsin Amish family ordered by a court to leave their home is fueling a legislative push for a religious exemption from building codes requiring smoke alarms and other modern devices. Published March 25, 2015