Secular Day at the Capitol: March 14, 2022 (Pi Day)
Eight years ago, we were told that legislative leadership and members thought that our advocacy group for people who believe in separation of church and state was “just a few people sitting in a room” and not to be taken seriously. We decided it was time to organize “Secular Day at the Capitol” to show that support for secular government is more than just a few people sitting in a room, it’s a movement!
Why we’re collecting banned books
Efforts to ban, censor, or even burn literature are the current political gimmick being exploited by the extreme religious right. Continue reading
Help Guard a Secular Holiday Display at the State Capitol!
Our friends at Freedom from Religion Foundation have a long history of helping local secular groups counter Christian displays on government properties. Last year, a nativity banner was displayed on the AZ Capitol lawn. This year, FFRF’s local chapter wants to respond! Their plan is to display a banner like the one above for four days: December 21st-24th. Secular AZ is lending its support as a partner in the project. Continue reading
Hear from Experts at the Dec. 11th 2021 Secular Summit!
Do you support secular public policy in Arizona? Meet Arizonans that share your beliefs and be part of the discussion how Secular AZ will fight for them in 2022!
The event will feature a keynote address from US Rep. Jamie Raskin: chair of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, co-chair/co-founder of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, and lead impeachment manager for the second impeachment of President Donald Trump!
Secular AZ leadership will report on how we’ve been fighting for your rights this year; recognize outstanding secular activists and leaders; and discuss what we can look forward to in 2022.
We’ll also hear from sitting school board member Lindsay Love on the subject of Christian nationalism at schools, and a panel of experts that will discuss medical refusals, including:
- Lindsay Love: Governing Board Member for Chandler Unified School District
- Dr. Deshawn Taylor: OB/GYN, professor, reproductive rights advocate, and owner of Desert Star Family Planning in Phoenix
- Dr. Atsuko Koyama: abortion provider and fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health
- Professor Elizabeth Sepper: nationally-recognized scholar of religious liberty and health law
This event is usually members-only, but is being opened up to the general public this year! (That said, we encourage you to join Secular AZ at secularaz.org). We also deeply appreciate donations to help pay for speaker fees and ongoing organizational costs. Be recognized as an event sponsor by kicking in $100 or more!
Announcing Secular Summit 2021 w/ keynote speaker Congressman Jamie Raskin!
Do you support separation of church and state in Arizona? Meet others who do, hear from experts, and be part of organizing for 2022!
8th Annual Secular Day at the Capitol
Curious about what happens at the legislature? Want to meet your lawmaker and connect with other people who care about secular government? Tired of religious intrusions into state statute? Then we have the virtual event for you!
Join us Monday, March 15th for our 8th Annual Secular Day at the Capitol.
COVID-19 has restricted us to an online forum but we are still here and we are still asking lawmakers to SEPARATE CHURCH AND STATE!
We are contemplating hosting an in-person, outdoor ,covid-safe SECULAR AZ visibility event at the Capitol to coincide with our virtual day. Please let us know in the registration form if this is something you’d like to do. If we have enough interest we will move forward. If we don’t, we don’t. What can we say – the weather is lovely, Secular AZ folks wear masks properly, and we value science!
Monday, March 15, 10AM – 2:00PM (flexibility and breaks built in so you can participate while tending to children, working, etc)
(Tentative) Schedule:
Welcome & Issue Overview & Meeting Practice
Breakout Rooms: 15 minute meetings with lawmakers; guest speakers in breakout rooms
Lunch Panel & Q&A
Secular Invocations and Introductions from the House and Senate
Closing/ end of day / call to action
REGISTER HERE FOR SECULAR DAY AT THE CAPITOL 2021
We are offering a legislative pre-training before Secular Day starts at 10am. Please sign up for this training in addition to the Day at the Capitol. Registration is separate for this meeting; click here to register for this free training.
SPONSOR SECULAR DAY AT THE CAPITOL!
Help us raise ALL of our voices at the Capitol! Sponsor Secular Day… and support our advocacy and activism at the Arizona State Legislature. Sponsors will be recognized on our website, in our newsletters, and at the event.
Since we can’t do in-person tabling this year, organizations that sponsor Secular Day will get time to speak at the event to provide updates on group activities. Click here to become a sponsor!
A HUGE “THANK YOU” TO OUR SECULAR DAY SPONSORS!
- AARON CONNOR
- ARIZONA END-OF-LIFE OPTIONS
- BOBBIE HOWARD
- BOBBIE MORGENSTERN REAL ESTATE
- BOBBIE VANDEGRIFF
- DIANNE POST
- DON AND NANCY LACEY
- DONNA GRATEHOUSE
- ELLEN GITTLEMAN
- FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION – VALLEY OF THE SUN
- FREETHOUGHT ARIZONA **SUPER SPONSOR**
- HOWARD JOHNSON
- MARK MANOIL
- MARTHA O’CONNOR
- PHILIP AND SHERRON LENTZ **SUPER SPONSORS**
- RON RUSSELL
- SECULAR HUMANIST JEWISH CIRCLE
- WHIT JOHNSON
Virtual Memorial in Honor of Mark Nisski
Please join us at a virtual memorial service for Secular AZ Board Member and friend Mark Nisski.
Late last year, Arizona’s secular community lost a bright light. Mark’s enthusiasm, intellectual curiosity, energy and kindness are sorely missed.
On Saturday, January 30 at 4pm, Mark’s family, friends and the secular community will gather together on Zoom to honor his memory.
Join Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 825 9122 5523
Passcode: 735733
Secular Summit 2020
The Secular Summit has gone virtual! Click here to join the event on Zoom.
Join secular supporters from around Arizona at our annual Secular Summit on 12/5/2020 for presentations, networking, education, advocacy and more.
Because we’re meeting online, we’re not charging for tickets this year. However, if you’re able, we ask that you please support Secular AZ by:
- making a donation that works with your budget or
- being a sponsor ($100) or
- being a super sponsor ($500)
This year, our keynote speaker is Katherine Stewart, journalist and author of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Christian Nationalism and The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children.
We’ll also have updates on the upcoming legislative session and Secular AZ’s legal activities, and hear from the Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for America, Debbie Allen.
Please join us on Saturday, December 5, from 9AM – 3:30PM. Click here to join the event on Zoom.
Tucson Presentation: David Tamayo
Hey Tucson! Join Freethought Arizona and Secular AZ on Saturday, February 22, at the Murphy-Wilmot Library, for a presentation with David Tamayo, founder of Hispanic American Freethinkers, the first and only national Latinx 501(c)(3) educational organization of its kind.
– This free event starts at 2pm
– 530 N Wilmot Road, Tucson
Tamayo will present “Artificial Intelligence, Secular Humanism, and Other Scary Thoughts.” This talk will touch on topics located at the intersection of secular humanism, philosophy, consciousness, science, and free will.
Sunday Speaker at HSGP: David Tamayo
SUNDAY SPEAKER DAVID TAMAYO: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, SECULAR HUMANISM, AND OTHER SCARY THOUGHTS
This talk connects A.I. to Humanism, especially about the near future for humanity.
David Tamayo is president and founder of Hispanic American Freethinkers, (HAFree) which is the first and only national Latino non-profit educational organization of its kind. He is also Chief Information Officer for a large aerospace engineering firm in D.C. David is the organizer of the HAFree High School Outreach Mentor Program to Latino and immigrant students teaching Critical Thinking Skills and Career Planning.
David sponsors and assists 10 cybersecurity teams at Langley High School competing in the U.S Air Force National CyberPatriot Competition. He is Vice President and founder of the Hispanic Business and Technology Council, a non-profit that educates young Hispanics to become IT leaders.
The meeting is free and open to the public. Doors open at 9:00 am for socializing with an optional Continental breakfast available for a $5 donation. The meeting begins at 10:00 am.
For more info, visit the HSGP website.
February 23rd, 2020 10:00 AM through 11:30 AM
627 W RIO SALADO PKWY
HUMANIST CENTER
MESA, AZ 85201-4009
HUMANIST CENTER
MESA, AZ 85201-4009
Secular Day at the Capitol: February 24, 2020
Secular Day at Capitol Map and Short Agenda Final
Save the date: Secular Day at the Capitol is February 24, 2020.
Calling ALL who support separation of church and state to join us on February 24, 2020, for our 7th Annual Secular Day at the Capitol. Here’s what you can expect:
– Learn about current threats to secular government
– Advocacy training
– Meetings with your lawmakers
– Group introductions from the House and Senate
– SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: DAVID TAMAYO, Founder and President of Hispanic Freethinkers
– Lunch & shirt included!
Registration closes February 17, 2020, so don’t delay!
RSVP for this FREE event by February 7 to qualify for your Secular AZ bracelet.