WATCH: Members of the public speak out against discriminatory bathroom policy at school board meeting

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.

Phoenix’s Washington Elementary School District folds to ADF lawsuit

A few weeks ago, we accomplished something big. We called on Phoenix’s Washington Elementary School District to end a teacher training contract with the discriminatory Arizona Christian University, over its policies of hate and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.

Unfortunately, it seems high-powered lawyers from hate group Alliance Defending Freedom have pressured the school district into reversing the decision. Continue reading

What connects evangelicals to QAnon?

Secular AZ recently sat down with Dr. Mia Bloom, author of Pastels and Pedophiles: Inside the Mind of QAnon to talk conspiracy theories in Christian socio-political movements. (Watch the full talk here.)

The conversation illuminated not-always-obvious connections between conspiracy theory culture and religious belief—as well as racism, mental illness, and more. Her conclusions illustrated that separating church and state is becoming an increasingly intersectional issue. Continue reading

AZ’s primary: what the results mean for separation of church and state

The votes are in. This primary, Republicans shifted harder toward the religious right, but Democrats pushed out some legislators who were soft on Christian nationalism. The balance of power in the Legislature may be decided by five races. And conspiracy theorists are vying for control of major statewide offices.

Here are the top results secular supporters need to know: Continue reading