Read Secular AZ Legal Director Dianne Post’s article, “WANTED: Owner/operator of Her Own Uterus” on Blog for Arizona.
Women’s Bodies, Ducey’s Choice
By Sami Al Asady | March 30th 2022
Governor Doug Ducey just signed three bills violating constitutional principles: SB1164, banning abortion after 15 weeks; SB1165, prohibiting trans girls from sports; and SB1138, restricting gender transitions. Each is a reminder that there are lawmakers who pay no regard to the constitutional separation of church and state, the Establishment Clause, nor our founding principles. Prejudicing marginalized communities and perverting scientific findings to accord with religious beliefs is dangerous to the security of Arizona. Continue reading
Arizona’s Reproductive Rights Coalition Responds to Governor Ducey Signing Bills that Attack Abortion, Trans, and Voting Rights
Phoenix, Arizona – Today, Arizona’s Reproductive Rights Coalition condemns Governor Ducey’s signing of Senate Bill 1164 into law, a medically unnecessary ban on abortion care after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Continue reading
Speak Out: Anti-LGBTQ+ Youth Bills and Abortion Ban in Committee
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Oppose Bills that Push Religious Dogma, Take Away Choice & Punish Health Care Providers
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The Startling Truth About Religious Refusals: What Your Healthcare Providers Aren’t Telling You
The intersection of law, medicine and so-called “morality” in the U.S. healthcare system poses a serious threat to patients’ access to healthcare and information. That’s the overarching message sent by a panel of experts in medicine and law we convened in December of 2021. As part of our annual Secular Summit event, Secular AZ organized a discussion on refusals of service based on religious beliefs, featuring the following experts and moderated by Secular AZ Legal Director Dianne Post:
- Atsuko Koyama, MD, MPH, Clinical Asst Professor University of AZ, COM, Creighton University; Dpt of Child Health and Emergency Medicine, Valleywise Health Medical Center
- Professor Elizabeth Sepper, Professor of Law at the University of Texas at Austin
- Dr. DeShawn Taylor, MD, MSc, FACOG, board-certified OB/GYN, clinical professor, and owner of Desert Star Family Planning in Phoenix
You can see the full video here. Let’s summarize what these experts working in the fields of medicine and law have to say about how refusals of service based on religious beliefs affect patients.
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 2759 got just 15 votes, one short of what’s needed -thanks in large part to secular supporters like you who raised their voices loudly in opposition to this bill.
As Secular AZ’s Tory Roberg says, “We are strong, but we are mighty!”
We want to thank those who spoke out, attended the rally at the State Capitol, and contacted their lawmakers to voice their opposition to this clear violation of separation of church and state.
Secular AZ took your voices to the House and Senate, where Tory stood up and testified in front of both appropriations committees. Secular AZ was alone in providing public testimony… and these efforts made the difference!
But this is just one of many such battles. Did you know that Secular AZ is the only group with a paid lobbyist, full legal team, and active board of volunteers that fight tirelessly for separation of church and state at the Capitol?
We don’t receive funding from any national groups. Instead, we rely solely on the generosity of Arizonans like you who understand the value of this work.
When the lines between church and state blur, we see attempts to:
- limit access to reproductive health care
- restrict women’s right to choose
- install policies that discriminate against LGTBQ individuals
- pass bills that harm sound science and medicine
- decrease funding for public schools
With more than 4,000 supporters around the state, we amplify the voice of reason at the Arizona State Capitol as we fight for secular public policies that benefit allArizonans.
Help us keep fighting! Now, more than ever, we need your support. Please donate today to help keep religious influence out of Arizona’s public policy.
#StopTheBans National Day of Action
Georgia. Ohio. Kentucky. Missouri. Alabama. ALL of these states’ Republican majorities have voted to effectively ban abortion in their states. And there are other states lining up to the be next state to “nearly or effectively ban abortion.”
Abortion bans impact everyone: women, transgender patients, people of color, LGBTQ people, undocumented folks, men, people with disabilities – the list goes on!
JOIN US TO ON A NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION to #StopTheBans
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2019 – 9:30 am
Arizona State Capitol
1700 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ
Show up in PINK or your favorite vibrant Tuesday color and fight with us!