News Release

October 1, 2003

Media Contact: (202) 789-5200

Can You Say That?
New Book Says Antidiscrimination Laws Threaten Civil Liberties

Should you be able to tell a racy joke at work? Should an overweight girl demand to be a ballerina? Should college students have the right to free speech on campus? In a book from the Cato Institute, You Can't Say That! The Growing Threat to Civil Liberties from Antidiscrimination Laws, David E. Bernstein argues that a host of antidiscrimination laws are beginning to threaten our basic civil liberties.

In a misguided attempt to rid our society of every vestige of "discrimination," activists and judges are using antidiscrimination laws to erode civil liberties such as free speech, the free exercise of religion and freedom of association. Civil rights laws are being applied in ways that threaten speech on campus and in the workplace, the right of local community leaders to speak out against government policies, the rights of private associations such as the Boy Scouts to determine their membership policies, and even the rights of individuals to choose their roommates.

In example after example, from freedom of speech to artistic expression to religion, You Can't Say That! reveals the profound threat to civil liberties posed by antidiscrimination laws.