Abortion Rights on the Ballot

Since the GOP-appointed SCOTUS members overturned Roe in 2022, Arizonans' rights to bodily autonomy have swung from a 15-week ban passed by Ducey, to a near-total ban based on an 1864 law, and back to the 15-week ban. 

We've read terrifying reports of women bleeding out, suffering, and dying in Georgia, Texas, Ohio, and Arkansas. We've seen an exodus of medical professionals from states with abortion bans like Idaho and Tennessee, exacerbating provider shortages.

Now, a non-partisan think tank has quantified just how much Arizona's ban costs: $3.4 billion per year. Obviously, the religious right doesn't care about women suffering and dying. But maybe the economic harm caused by abortion bans will force the "party of fiscal responsibility" to take notice. (We're not holding our breath.)

Speaking of changing opinions on abortion, senatorial candidate Kari Lake has certainly changed her tune not once, not twice, but many times. 

During her unsuccessful 2022 run, Lake took a hard anti-abortion stance, saying she'd sign a 6-week ban, calling abortion the "ultimate sin," that she was "thrilled" about the 1864 ban, and supporting a ban on abortion medication. 

 However, in early April 2024, she called the 1864 ban "out of step" and denounced it... before lamenting that sheriffs weren't enforcing it. Later that month, Lake said she supported exceptions for rape and incest, which the 1864 ban didn't include. And in September, she came out against a federal abortion ban. 

Phew! It's hard to keep up with Lake's deeply held beliefs, isn't it? 

Candidate Forums

Hey Arizona — early voting starts today! Are you informed and ready?

As part of our efforts to help you make an informed decision at the ballot box, Secular AZ  invited all the candidates running for Maricopa County School Superintendent attend a candidate forum. 

Shelli Boggs turned down our request, while Dr. Laura Metcalfe showed up to answer your questions. 

Click here to watch the MCSS forum — and our other candidate forums — on the Secular AZ YouTube channel. 

And while we don't endorse candidates, we definitely want to provide information about candidates and ballot propositions. That's why we host weekly presentations related to Arizona elections, with guests like Dianne Post, Victor Aronow, and the League of Women Voters. Please watch on our YouTube channel.

Be sure to check out our other election resources, such as Secular AZ Legislative Scorecards, links to important voter registration websites, other organizations' ballot guides (such as CEBV, NOWAZ, SOSAZ, Reproductive Freedom for All, and more).

"Every American who isn’t a Christian Nationalist should be standing up right now and calling the forced birth movement what it is: A bunch of religious fanatics who are determined to force everyone to live by their faith, whether we want to or not. Because they don’t merely believe they can control women’s bodies; they believe they can control EVERY BODY."

Maybe you're past your child-bearing years. Maybe you don't have a uterus. But if you think these attempts by the GOP to ban abortion won't affect you, think again. 

Throughout 2024, Andra Watkins has been writing about the threats posed by Christian nationalism, Project 2025, the anti-abortion movement, and more on her Substack. 

We're excited for Andra to join us on October 18 to talk about how Project 2025 would ruin your life. Please click here to register for this online presentation. 

And this Friday, we're thrilled to welcome author Tia Levings to talk about her new book A Well-Trained Wife: My Escape from Christian Patriarchy, now on the New York Times Bestseller list!

Recruited into the Quiverfull movement when young, Tia learned that being a godly and submissive wife in Christian Patriarchy meant strict discipline, isolation, and the need for women were to be silent “keepers of the home.” This high-control religion is not only reshaping families, but influencing politics, laws, and elections.

Tia writes about the realities of Christian fundamentalism, evangelical patriarchy, and religious trauma, and is quoted in Salon, the Huffington Post, and Newsweek. She also appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Please click here to register for this online presentation. 

Congratulations!

We are so excited to share the recipients of the Secular Student Alliance's 2024 Student Activist Scholarships! Secular AZ, Humanist Society of Greater Phoenix, and Freedom From Religious Foundation Valley of the Sun Chapter partnered with SSA to honor these amazing activists. 

Annika is pursuing a double major in religion and philosophy, as well as a degree in cyber security. She plans to pursue a career that fights religious extremism and attacks against a pluralistic secular state, both ideologically and codified in cyberspaces. 

Law student Peyton plans on using her educational background in kinesiology, business, and leadership, and merging her passion for health advocacy with a legal framework to effect systemic change. Identifying as a humanist, Peyton's secular identity is rooted in values of compassion, acceptance, and community service.

Ray's graduate study in environmental science and microbiology will help him conduct research in pollution cleanup and contribute to environmental restoration efforts. His SSA leadership offered a vital sense of community, providing a platform for civil discussions and breaking down stereotypes about nonreligious people.

Sami is about to finish his political science degree and embark upon graduate studies, leading toward a career focused on public service and technology policy. Along the way, he's cultivated expertise in governance, international relations, and public policy, with an academic focus complemented by his selection as a Princeton University Public Policy and International Affairs Fellow, and as a Secular AZ Board Member.