Rep. Ruben Gallego Gives Secular "Prayer" on AZ House Floor
Representative Ruben Gallego took a personal point of privilege to deliver the following statement on the House Floor yesterday (February 6, 2014): The purpose of our opening prayer is to ask for something important. I’m asking that whichever God you pray to or whichever value system inspires you, let’s stay focused on the work we came here to do.
There are a lot of versions of the Golden Rule in a lot of religions and secular traditions. They all say we should treat people like we want to be treated.
Arizonans and their families want to be treated like their state government is here for them. They want to know we’re going to fight for them. That we’re making Arizona a place of prosperity and opportunities. Let’s practice the Golden Rule today and get to work. Representative Mach welcomed Secular Students and Secularists to Arizona House of Representatives
During the same floor session that Rep. Gallego made the personal point of privilege, Rep. Mach welcomed and introduced her guests from the Secular Student Alliance and the Secular Coalition. Thank you to Representative Mach for the warm welcome! Join us for Secular Day at the Capitol!
Arizona’s secularists have reason (and now, reasons) to celebrate. For the first time ever, we defeated a stunning 80 percent of the bills backed by the Religious Right’s lobby, the Center for Arizona Policy (CAP), widely considered one of the most powerful lobbying organizations in the state. This confirms that when we organize, and articulate sensible views supporting church-state separation, we can win.
This past legislative season, SC Arizona lobbied against ten anti-secular bills. Thanks to your efforts and the efforts of our allies, half of these bills died in committee, and only five went to a full floor vote. Of these, only two were signed into law.
How well did your state lawmakers represent your secular values? Find out who your legislators are HERE, then check their rating on our secular values scorecard!
Secular Coalition for Arizona is pleased to announce the hire of our summer intern, Jessica Draper! Jessica is currently a sophomore at the University of Arizona where she is pursuing a degree in Political Science along with two minors including Gender and Women's Studies and Middle Eastern & North African Studies.
Born and raised in Gilbert, Arizona, Jessica grew up in a predominantly Mormon area where she herself was baptized Mormon at the age of eight. At 11 years old, she dropped religion altogether and became a self-proclaimed atheist.
The Arizona State Legislature adjourned Sine Die early this morning, Friday, June 14, 2013 at 12:59 a.m. By every measure, this session has been an extraordinary success for the Secular Coalition for Arizona, and the secular Arizonans we represent. We have lots to celebrate--but we also have to stop four last bills that made it to the Governor's desk.
Secular Coalition for Arizona is pleased to offer a paid part-time internship position for summer 2013. SC Arizona is seeking a highly motivated undergraduate student with a demonstrated interest in being active in the nontheistic movement. The student must live within the state of Arizona during the duration of the internship and have reliable transportation.
SC Arizona’s internship will provide activities and opportunities to learn about and assist with nontheistic community organizing, fundraising, event coordination, media relations, and social media networking.
Tomorrow, May 9, 2013, the State House of Representatives will take a final vote on SB 1178, relating to the free exercise of religion. While the bill purports to provide protection for religious exercise and observance, these protections already exist under Arizona's Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
The State Senate will be voting today, May 7, 2013, on HB2446, which expands property tax exemptions for property used to further a religious mission. The bill removes the necessity for religious groups to have an IRS nonprofit determination letter in order to receive this exemption.
URGENT action needed. We are up against the worst, most damaging piece of legislation we’ve seen yet this year—and we need all hands on deck to stop it! TOMORROW, Thursday, May 2nd, the House will be voting on SB1178, which dramatically expands the ability of individuals in our state to discriminate against people they don’t agree with in the name of religious belief--resulting in increased vulnerability for nonbelievers, the LGBT community, and others on the target list of religionists.