Secular Summit 2019 Tickets Available
Join us on December 7 for the 5th annual Secular Summit! This members-only event is a day of secular networking, education, advocacy and action, including updates from our legal team and our Director of Government Affairs. (Not a member yet? Become one …
AZ Supreme Court Upholds Bigotry in the Name of Religious Freedom
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Secular government supporters decry Supreme Court decision upholding religious discrimination against LGBTQ customers (Wed., Sept 17, 2019) Phoenix, Ariz. — The Arizona Supreme Court decided 4-3 yesterday that business owners who …
We Did It!! Bill Funneling Taxpayer $ to Fake “Women’s Health Clinics” Defeated
GOOD NEWS! Late night, the AZ Senate voted down a terrible bill that would have funneled taxpayer money into fake “women’s health” clinics that were, in reality, fronts for pro-life groups that seek to thwart access to safe, legal abortion. HB 2 …
TAKE ACTION NOW Against Bills That Funnel Taxpayer $ to Anti-Choice Fake Health Centers
Mirror bills HB2759 and S1547 just passed committee and will likely be heard on the floor this evening. We need your voice to stop them on the floor. Please contact your own legislators as well as targeted Republicans Rep. Steve Pierce (LD-1) [602-926 …
Secular AZ Asks AZ Congressional Delegates to Support Do No Harm Act of 2019
The Secular Coalition for Arizona requests that Arizona’s Congressional Delegates sponsor and support the Do No Harm Act of 2019, sponsored in the Senate by Senator Kamala Harris (S. 593) and in the House by Representative Joseph Kennedy (H.R. 1450). W …
Religious Messaging on the Governor’s Official Social Media
Why does Governor Ducey appear to be using an official government Facebook page to promote explicit religious messaging? The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution prohibits government sponsorship of religious messages. Al …
“Be the Curators of Inspiration”: Listen to Robert People‘s Secular Invocation
Follow this link to watch Robert Peoples of the Affinis Humanity Coalition deliver a moving secular invocation before the AZ State Senate as a guest of Sen. Andrea Dalessandro and Secular AZ. https://youtu.be/xHvVnrprETQ For a transcript, visit Patheos …
“Be the Curators of Inspiration”: Listen to Robert People’s Secular Invocation
Follow this link to watch Robert Peoples of the Affinis Humanity Coalition deliver a moving secular invocation before the AZ State Senate as a guest of Sen. Andrea Dalessandro and Secular AZ. https://youtu.be/xHvVnrprETQ For a transcript, visit Patheos …
Your Donations Doubled & a Grant Competition
Right now, you have two unique opportunities to support Secular AZ! Thanks to a generous Secular Supporter, all gifts will be matched up to $40,000 and We’re participating in the “A Community Thrives” grant competition. Each week until April 12, non-p …
Secular AZ Responds to Camp Verde H.S. Bible Instruction
Please read Secular AZ’s letter to the Camp Verde Unified School District re: proposed bible instruction at Camp Verde High School. It is well-settled that public schools may not advance or promote religion; the government must not encroach on personal …
Why is AZ Taxpayer Money Funding a Hate Group?
Hey Arizonans… Ever seen those “In God We Trust” license plates? Did you know that $17 for each plate sold goes to the Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-LGBTQ, anti-reproductive rights organization designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty …
Meet FFRF’s Dan Barker
Meet FFRF’s Dan Barker Please join Freedom From Religion Foundation- Valley of the Sun Chapter and Secular Communities for Arizona for a special event featuring Dan Barker. Thursday, March 14 6p-9p Humanist Community Center 627 W. Rio Salado Pkwy, Mes …
Executive Director Position at Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix
The Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix, one of Secular AZ’s liaised organiztions, seeks an Executive Director. Please see attached file for more information. If you are interested in this position, please email your resume and any additional informati …
Secular Day at the Capitol
Secular Day at the Capitol MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2019, 9a-3p ARIZONA STATE CAPITOL LAWN 1700 W WASHINGTON STREET PHOENIX, AZ Join hundreds of Arizonans who support secular public policy and make your voice heard at the State Capitol! We’ll enjoy tours, …
Secular Summit: RSVP Today!
Join secular public policy supporters from around the state for the 4th annual Secular Summit! Get inspired and engaged during this day of networking, advocacy training and education as we prepare for the 2019 Legislative Session. When …
YOU DID IT! AZ Science Standards to be Based on Actual Science
Give yourselves a hand, Secular Supporters! You spoke out en masse, and your voices were heard. Thanks in large parts to your activism, the AZ Board of Education voted 6-4 to adopt science standards that recognize evolution and climate change, re …
Board of Education Rally – Superintendent Douglas Complains About Secular Response
Secular Supporters, your voices are being heard! At the Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Diane Douglas gave us her opinion. Take a look at this video to see her comments… and our response. (Here’s a hint: She’s not happy with us!) …
2018 AZ Legislative Voter Guide
Want to know where the candidates stand on the issues? Before you vote, peruse our 2018 Arizona Legislative Voter Guide. Candidates running for Arizona State Senate and State House of Representatives received the Secular Coalition for Arizona’s “ …
Secular AZ Lauds Decision Limiting School Board Prayer
Secular Coalition for Arizona www.secularaz.org Contact: Tory Roberg, Director of Government Affairs – tory@secularaz.org – 623-570-6396 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Secular AZ lauds decision limiting school board prayer (Thurs., July 26, 2018) Phoenix, Ariz …
Reverend Speaks Out Against Removing Evolution from Science Standards
Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas is attempting to limit the use of the word “evolution” in Arizona high schools’ science curriculum, in spite of more than a year of work by 100 educators, parents and community members who drafted …
2018 Legislative Scorecards
Our 2018 Legislative Scorecards are here! How did your representatives vote on the issues?
Evolution Under Attack in AZ Science Standards
We believe that the science education in Arizona schools should be based on scientific fact, not religious dogma… and science teachers from around the world agree! That’s why we’re concerned about Superintendent Diane Douglas’ attempt to cast doubt o …
Secular AZ: Public Schools Should Not Actively Promote Belief in God
The AZ House voted to allow the phrase “God Enriches” – an English translation of the state motto that references the Biblical book of Genesis – to be posted in Arizona’s public schools. Secular AZ’s Tory Roberg has some thoughts on why this violation …
Do We Need (Yet Another) Religious Endorsement in AZ Public Schools?
The Friendly Atheist can’t understand why the AZ Senate passed SB1289, allowing teachers and administrators to post a translation of the AZ state motto, Ditat Deus, in classrooms…. and Secular AZ agrees. Historically, the motto has alw …
Secular AZ in the Media: Jewish News
Secular Day at the Capitol Featured in Jewish News Secular AZ”s annual Secular Day at the Capitol event was featured in Jewish News, including interviews with BOD Chair Zenaido Quintana, Director of Government Affairs Tory Roberg, and Kent Barrabee Vi …
“Nones” Now Largest Religious Demographic in 20 States
A September, 2017 study from the Public Religion Research Institute found that those identifying as non-religious are the largest demographic in 20 states, including Arizona. (Here in AZ, “nones” make up 26% of the population.) Of these, six in 10 iden …
Fighting Against the Unconstitutional Use of Taxpayer Money to Endorse Religion in Fountain Hills
Secular AZ Board member and attorney Dianne Post joined concerned Fountain Hills residents to bring attention to the town’s improper and unconstitutional use of taxpaper money to promote a religious event. At a June 1 Town Council meeting, FH resident …
Phoenix New Times: Whose Higher Power?
The Phoenix New Times published an article on Republican House members’ overreach after Rep. Athena Salman offered a secular invocation on the House Floor earlier this week. As Salman noted, “The Arizona House of Representatives is the people’s h …
Regarding official government prayer
On April 18th, 2017, State Representative Athena Salman offered a humanist invocation written by a member of her community, the Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix. House leadership then ruled that, despite Salman’s assertion that her higher power is “ …
Religious Preference in the House: Rep. Salman and Secular AZ in “The Nation”
Secular Coalition for Arizona was featured in The Nation magazine this week. The article — entitled An Arizona Legislator Gave an Invocation that Didn’t Mention God. You Won’t Believe What Happened Next — detailed the controversy that er …
Weekly Update from the AZ Capitol
First: we’re continuing to fight two subjective morality bills that just passed the Senate. The CAP-written S1367 forces doctors to perform life-saving procedures on aborted and preterm births, even when it is clear resuscitation is futile an …
Secular AZ to Corporation Commission: All or nothing when it comes to prayer
In a January 10, 2017 press release, the Corporation Commission announced that it will start a new practice: starting meetings with a prayer. Contrary to the statements of Chairman Tom Forese, prayer in any form does not encompass all faiths and belief …
Opening Day Rally & the Anti-Hate Pledge
On Monday, January 9, 2017, Secular Coalition for Arizona stood in unity with over 40 groups at an anti-hate rally for the opening day of the 53rd Arizona State Legislature. Watch video of our Government Affairs Director, Tory Roberg, as she rep …
The Religiously Unaffiliated: An Important and Growing Group
Read more or click here to see the original post written by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) about their latest national survey that highlights an important and growing group: The religiously unaffiliated. This is why secular activism and …