RI ACLU sues Trump administration over ‘gender ideology’ executive order arts funding provision

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against one of President Donald Trump’s executive orders Thursday.

This executive order requires artists and theater groups to declare they will not promote gender ideology to be eligible for funding.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of four local non-profit corporations who have received funding from the National Endowment for the Arts in the past, and wish to do so in the future, as well.

The suit includes the Rhode Island Latino Arts, National Queer Theater, The Theater Offensive and the Theater Communications Group.

The ACLU is asking for a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order before the grant application deadline on March 24th.

In a statement, Vera Eidelman, Senior Staff Attorney with the ACLU said:

Grants from the NEA are supposed to be about one thing: artistic excellence. Blocking eligibility for artists because they express a message the government doesn’t like runs directly counter to the NEA’s purpose, the First Amendment’s prohibition on viewpoint-based regulation and the role of art in our society.