Archived Campaign

Keshet mobilized the Jewish community to send a clear message: religious freedom does not mean freedom to discriminate. We shared how our Jewish values teach us to love, protect, and fight for all LGBTQ+ people with our legislators through a phonebanking campaign. Throughout the campaign, 153 advocates contacted their elected officials 582 times.

Background: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) was intended to protect religious groups’ constitutional right to exercise their religious beliefs freely. 

Problem: RFRA is being misused by individuals and businesses to attempt to discriminate against and impose religious beliefs on others. For example, Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. was a 2014 Supreme Court case that ruled that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). The ruling allowed for-profit corporations to deny birth control coverage to employees based on religious beliefs.

Proposed solution: In 2024, H.R. 2725, The Do No Harm Act redefined RFRA as “intended to protect religious freedom without allowing the infliction of harm on other people.” By amending RFRA to protect against discrimination, RFRA would have complied with federal nondiscrimination protections.

Result: This bill did not become law. However, we made our stance known: as Jews, we firmly believe that all people deserve the right to live as their complete selves without fear and intimidation.