| | - SB1269, which allows volunteer school chaplains to replace trained social workers; takes away parents’ rights to manage children’s religious education, and tracks students’ religious affiliations.
- HB2438: Bans judges from amending birth certificates in an attempt to prevent accurately reflecting transgender individuals’ identities — a form of legal erasure.
- HB2439: Refers to a website that isn’t required to discuss the full range of reproductive health; such as abortion care, and promotes fake “pregnancy clinics.
- SB1256, which prevents state agencies or contractors from providing or requiring DEI in hiring, training and promotion, and promotes white Christian nationalism
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| |  | Walking the Walk Today is the last day of the annual Secular Week of Action... but there are always actions you can take to make a difference, like: |
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| | |  | May Day Marches Arizonans showed up for the Constitution last week, and to take a stand against tyranny, fascism and autocracy. Thousands of you peacefully rallied on May Day in cities and towns around the state. Secular AZ's Executive Director Jeanne Casteen was at the Phoenix march; in an interview for AZ Central, she said that "she attended the rally because she was seeing 'white Christian nationalism' take over the country, which she called 'the greatest threat to our Democracy.' 'They're in cults and it's time for everybody to call it what it is: fascism, patriarchal, Christian, authoritarianism.' |
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 | Lager with a Lawyer Join us Tuesday, May 7th from 6-8p for Lager with a Lawyer, where you can engage directly with two legal minds working on the front lines of church:state separation and constitutional rights. Secular AZ's Dianne Post and Robert McWhirter, constitutional attorney and frequent national media contributor, will offer insightful commentary. Bring questions about civil liberties and the Constitution, share concerns, and enjoy this relaxed setting with others who care about defending democracy and secular values. Your suggested contribution of $10 or more supports Secular AZ’s ongoing legal and advocacy work. RSVP required - just a few seats left! |
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| | SECULAR NEWS FROM AZ AND BEYOND Stand up against the real bullies: High school cheerleading coach Alyssa Plaza was terminated by the Yuma Union High School District board for allowing a male student to change in an (empty) girls locker room. The district cited "personnel matters" and revoked the coach's teaching certificate. Students allege that the coach was actually protecting the male student from bullying and harassment, and that she's being targeted by the board for supporting LGBTQ+ students. Students and community members have rallied in the coach's defense, arguing the decision was unjust and discriminatory, and urging the board to reinstate her. Read more, sign a petition, and help support Alyssa Plaza. Chipping away at church:state separation: The Supreme Court heard a case regarding allowing tax money to fund an Oklahoma religious charter school. The OK Supreme Court previously nullified the school's contract, citing that state funding of a Catholic curriculum violates the separation of church and state. The decision could potentially change how K-12 education is funded, impacting the inclusion of religious schools in state-funded charter programs across the country. The conservative justices seem poised to allow the violation of the Establishment Clause. Read more. Official state religion: Last week, the Trump administration released an executive order establishing a "Presidential Commission on Religious Liberty" with a focus on parental rights in religious education, school choice, conscience protections, attacks on houses of worship, free speech for religious entities, and institutional autonomy. Despite the lovely-sounding name, this commission promotes Christian nationalism, not religious freedom. Led by religious hardliners (including Dr. Phil, recently seen accompanying ICE agents on Chicago raids), the commission aims to weaken church-state separation, redefine the Establishment Clause, and expand religious exemptions from civil rights laws. The commission allgns with Project 2025's theocratic agenda, urging opposition to defend secular governance and true religious liberty. Read more. |
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| | May 4, 10a: Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix's Humanist Open Forum May 4, 10a: Flagstaff Freethinker's Sunday Coffee Klastch May 7, 6p: Lager with a Lawyer (RSVP required!) May 9, 12p: Dr. Randall Balmer on America's Best Idea: The Separation of Church and State (virtual event) May 10, 10a: Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix Crochet Sleeping Mats May 10, 6p: Prescott Freethinker's Trivia Night May 11, 9a: Red Rock Rationalist's Brunch at Café Josè May 14, 5:30: TSTAZ 101 (virtual event) May 16, 11:30a: Katherine Stewart on Money, Lies and God (virtual event) June 1, 12p: Lookout's Summer of Solutions: Healing Through Drag (RSVP required) |
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| | | | Secular AZ
PO Box 47756 | Phoenix, Arizona 85068
6023804810 | info@secularaz.org |
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