When I was a child, no more than four years old, I came to the United States, hand-in-hand with my mother. We were in search of safety and the hope of a better life. But from the moment we crossed the border, that idealistic hope was met with real fear. We were detained, confined in a detention center, a place I still remember all too clearly. For many migrants, myself included, the journey to freedom and safety is filled with obstacles, some of which feel insurmountable.
The 56th Arizona Legislature was marked by the introduction of dozens of bills seeking to tear down the separation of church and state. Many of these bills mirrored the proposals outlined in the Christian nationalist Project 2025. All were introduced by Republicans and votes largely fell along partisan lines, with a few exceptions.
During livestreamed school board meetings in Arizona, cameras often record commenters during public comments, raising safety concerns. Students and community members speaking on contentious issues sometimes find clips of themselves circulating in hostile online spaces. Continue reading →
The past four years, certain conservatives have pushed “parental rights” to suppress equity education. But who is left out of the conversation? Who is expressing support for parents that have LGBTQ+ kids? And what tools are parents using to protect themselves and their children? Continue reading →
It is with great enthusiasm that Secular Communities for Arizona has hired renowned local activist, Eddie Chavez Calderon as its new Development Director. Mr. Chavez Calderon is a passionate champion of civic education and engagement, who is highly respected as a champion for social justice throughout the state of Arizona.
“My years of advocacy and fighting for justice align perfectly with Secular AZ’s mission to combat extremist faith-based ideologies that harm our communities in the Arizona state legislature,” said Mr. Calderon in his announcement accepting the position. “As a proud Jew, my Judaism grounds me in the fight against religious extremism that uses extremist ideas to harm our local community. In a time of struggle and fear facing our communities we must all come together whether we are of faith or not to combat extremist hate that hurts all of us. As a proud immigrant I hold the values of community uplift and community care that looks to bring each one of our struggles together.”
Last week, we were joined for a conversation with special guest Isabella Russian of the American Humanist Association. In a talk called “Engaging Secular Voters,” she gave us a crash course in what pro-secular voters can do to make change beyond the ballot box… what works and what doesn’t!
Our Executive Director Jeanne Casteen recently attended the National School Board Conference with Association of Secular Elected Officials (ASEO) in New Orleans. Casteen, a former school board member and current ASEO member, teamed with ASEO to connect with school board members from across the country. Continue reading →
In 1965, a group of high school students were suspended for wearing black armbands to school in protest of the Vietnam War. This sparked the landmark decisionTinker v. Des Moines, in which the Supreme Court declared that students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate. Tinker was focused on free speech, but what about privacy rights for students? Continue reading →
It all started with a Pride display in June. Every month, the staff at the Camp Verde Community Library puts together a display of library books and media highlighting a particular theme. The display gathers materials from all areas of the library, including adult fiction and nonfiction, teen fiction and nonfiction, and audio-visual materials. The June theme was “Read with Pride” and featured books by and about the LGBTQ community. Continue reading →
Here’s how members of the public spoke up against a proposed policy at Peoria Unified School District banning trans students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity. And guess what? Members listened. The proposal was shot down 3-2.
Backlash is expected from the religious right at the next meeting on May 11th at 6PM. If you’re in the district, members will need to hear from you: 6330 West Thunderbird Road, Glendale, Arizona. Speak or just show up early and fill seats.
