This week — the first of Arizona’s legislative session — Secular AZ received word that on the second floor lobby, there is a “Pine Tree” flag — a symbol of the Christian nationalist Appeal to Heaven (ATH) movement. Continue reading
Our View From Opening Day at the Legislature 2022
On Monday, Governor Ducey delivered his final State of the State speech, and Secular AZ Board Member Sami Al-Asady and I were able to attend as guests of Representative Andrea Dalessandro. This was not the first SOTS I’ve attended, and it wasn’t much different than speeches given in years past. Continue reading
The Biggest Corrupter of Young Minds Are…Books?
Socrates, the famed ancient Greek philosopher, was put on trial for failing to acknowledge Athenian gods, introducing new deities, and corrupting the youth. The consequence of these actions was a death sentence. In The Apology of Socrates, he charges Athens for their anathema to philosophy, a discipline focused on attempting truth through reason, knowledge, and inquiry. The city-state abhorred the supposed godlessness and impiety of Socrates, so rather than engage in dialogue, they elected to consign him to oblivion. Continue reading
New Year Remarks from Secular AZ’s Executive Director
As the year comes to an end, I have found myself feeling a mix of despair and optimism. A new year brings new beginnings, but also uncertainty. I remember last New Year’s Eve thinking “thank goodness 2020 is over!” and then, less than a week later watched as Christian nationalists violently staged an insurrection at our country’s Capitol. Continue reading
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
The New Definition of Religious Discrimination
This article provides context for a series of forthcoming articles discussing a proposed Arizona law. Continue reading
For God’s Sake, Keep Religious Dogma Out of Public Schools
Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) has introduced a resolution to the United States Senate, supported by 17 Senators, that would designate the week of October 3rd to 9th as “Religious Education Week.” This Senate resolution, if passed, would affirm the importance of religious education in the “civic and moral education of the people of the United States.” 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
Secular AZ activists help shut down illegal rally by Christian nationalist figures
Secular AZ attorneys helped shut down an illegal campaign event planned to be held at a public school last week by right wing gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and GOP Senate hopeful Jim Lamon. Continue reading
Overview and Status of Crespin v. State of AZ
A case about religious freedom was appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit* on April 22, 2021.
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!
SB8 is a Gambit to Circumvent the Constitution
Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote about a culture in which women who want to escape men’s violence flee into the country for women-only communes. When they attempt to escape, they are chased by helicopters dropping nets from the sky and then men on the ground round them up like wild animals. Nothing Margaret Atwood wrote in The Handmaid’s Tale was fiction then or now. From the Taliban in Afghanistan to the Taliban in Texas, women’s freedom remains under severe attack. Continue reading