Contact: David Reinbold, dreinbold@americanhumanist.org

(Washington, D.C., July 30, 2024) – The American Humanist Association applauds President Biden’s call for reforms on the rogue Supreme Court, including his endorsement of a binding code of conduct for the high court, disclosures on gifts received, and term limits for Supreme Court Justices.

After another egregious Supreme Court term that, among other political decisions, provided the presidency immunity from prosecution, overturned the Chevron doctrine (giving political hacks the power to overrule scientists and other experts on key issues), threatened abortion rights, and delivered a devastating blow to common sense gun reform by overturning a federal ban on bumpstocks, it could not be more clear that we are in the midst of a judicial crisis that requires immediate congressional action.

“There is no time to waste. I applaud the Biden administration’s endorsement of critical court reforms and continue to call on Congress to take immediate action to get the job done. Congress has the power to act today on several key reform bills and it is incumbent upon them to rise to the gravity of this moment. Democracy and our basic civil rights cannot wait,” said Lily Bolourian, Legal and Policy Director for the AHA.

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The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

The post AHA Applauds President Biden’s Call for Court Reform appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Contact: David Reinbold, dreinbold@americanhumanist.org

(July 19, 2024, Washington, D.C.) — Last month, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida ruled in favor of plaintiffs represented by the American Humanist Association, granting a Motion for Summary Judgment in a longstanding battle with the City of Ocala, FL, over a public Christian prayer vigil that the city’s police force unconstitutionally orchestrated. As noted in the Court’s decision, “because the City conceived, organized, promoted, and conducted the Prayer Vigil, it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.”

Unfortunately, the City of Ocala has announced its decision to appeal the court’s judgment. The AHA is prepared to fight this case on behalf of our plaintiffs and the First Amendment until the very end.

“The American Humanist Association works tirelessly to uphold the Establishment Clause of our Constitution. We were very pleased with the judge’s decision last month and are obviously disappointed about the plans to appeal. We applaud the bravery, earnestness, and dedication of the plaintiffs who have been on this journey with us for nearly ten years,” said Nicole Carr, AHA’s Interim Executive Director. “At a time when the separation of religion and government is under threat from those who care neither for ethics nor for democracy, this is a critically important case that reminds the nation that our Constitution is still a bulwark that protects Americans against those who would prefer to have a theocratic regime.”

Plaintiff’s attorney Ayesha Khan stated, “Police departments should not take sides in matters of religion. The trial judge got it right and we intend to defend his decision on appeal.”

“The AHA scored a major victory in this case for democracy and the Constitution despite a tumultuous legal landscape for the Establishment Clause following the Supreme Court’s decision in the Kennedy v. Bremerton School District case in 2022. We maintain that the City of Ocala violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution when its police force organized and held a public Christian prayer vigil using taxpayer resources. We are undeterred by an appeal and will continue to fight in this case to protect the line that separates religion from government in our secular democracy. The other side — and others who would consider violating the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment — should continue to expect fierce resistance from us in court,” said Lily Bolourian, Legal and Policy Director for the AHA.

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The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

The post AHA Legal Center Secures Major Establishment Clause Victory in Ocala, Florida, Stands Ready to Face Appeal appeared first on American Humanist Association.

The post AHA Leadership Changes appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Contact: Jasmine Banks, jbanks@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088

(Washington, DC, December 27, 2022) – The American Humanist Association decries New York Governor Hochul’s decision to veto S7313A, a bill that would have non-religious recovery options for those mandated to attend recovery programs in New York. The bill passed the legislature with bipartisan support, and only needed the Governor’s signature to become law.

If it had been enacted into law, the bill would have required a court to ascertain whether a defendant had an objection to any religious elements of a substance use treatment program. If the defendant did object to a religious element of the program, the court would be required to identify an alternative, equivalent program.

Humanists, atheists, and non-Christians encountering problems with mandated religious-based programs has long been a known issue, and multiple court cases have affirmed secular recovery options as a constitutional right.

Nadya Dutchin, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association, states “Individuals involved in the criminal justice system should have the option to participate in rehabilitation services that are non-religious in nature – especially when mandated by the government. We know that an evidence-based program like SMART Recovery is an effective and holistically better choice for so many people’s lives. We absolutely want to ensure those struggling with substance use disorders can access help programs that are effective and free of religious propaganda.”

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The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

The post Humanists Condemn New York Governor Hochul’s Veto of Non-Religious Recovery Options Bill appeared first on American Humanist Association.

We call on those in power to put young people first and reject the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Read the letter sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee below or download a PDF version.

October 12, 2020

Dear Senator:

We the 83 undersigned local, state, and national organizations write in opposition to the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States. As organizations committed to social justice including reproductive health, rights, and justice, and working alongside young people, it is imperative that we speak out in opposition to confirming Amy Coney Barrett to a lifelong seat on the Supreme Court of the United States.

Like millions across the world, and as organizations dedicated to social change, we mourn the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Justice Ginsburg worked tirelessly throughout her career to advocate against sexism and for positive social change. Justice Ginsburg opened doors not only for women in the legal field but for every person dedicated to achieving a world where there is true equal justice under the law. With her passing, Justice Ginsburg leaves both a formidable legacy and her open seat on the Supreme Court of the United States.

Young people, especially young queer and trans people of color, are disproportionately impacted by the actions of those in power. If Judge Barrett were confirmed to the Supreme Court, not only would the legacy of Justice Ginsburg be in jeopardy but also the rights of young people and other marginalized communities across the country. In her three years on the Seventh Circuit, Judge Barrett dissented from decisions that refused to revisit panel decisions that upheld abortion access. In Planned Parenthood of Ind. & Ky., Inc. v. Comm’r of the Ind. State Dep’t of Health, again, she joined a dissent from denial of en banc review. The dissent compared people who have abortions to people who are furthering “eugenics goals” – a shameful suggestion that has its roots in xenophobia and racism. In Planned Parenthood of Ind. & Ky., Inc. v. Box, she dissented from denial of en banc review of an order striking down as unconstitutional an Indiana law that targeted young people for additional barriers to abortion access. In her dissent, she disputed pre- enforcement challenges to abortion laws, a line of argument that could potentially have the long- term effect of stripping people of their constitutional rights by allowing unconstitutional laws to go into effect without challenges.

Young people already face extreme barriers to accessing abortion care, from unnecessary abortion restrictions like forced parental involvement and waiting periods, to limitations on their ability to obtain confidential care using their family health insurance, to inability to pay because of federal and state restrictions on abortion insurance coverage. These barriers are magnified for Black, Indigenous and other people of color (BIPOC), and queer and trans youth. Barrett’s judicial record and possible confirmation could also make the threat of criminalization for providing or having an abortion more imminent than it has been for decades, a threat that disproportionately puts Black, Indigenous, and other people of color at risk.

I. The impact of parental involvement laws.

Ending forced parental involvement in abortion decision-making is a key part of ensuring reproductive self-determination for all young people.

Most young people under the age of 18 involve a parent or guardian in their decision whether to continue a pregnancy or have an abortion. For minors who cannot or choose not to involve a parent or legal guardian, forced parental involvement laws create significant and unnecessary barriers that may prevent them from getting abortion care. In 37 states with parental involvement laws, people under the age of 18 are forced to involve their parents or legal guardians by giving them notice or seeking their consent before obtaining abortion care. The only alternative to this forced parental involvement is for a teen to obtain a judicial bypass, meaning the young person must go to court to get approval from a judge so they can consent to their own healthcare.

To the great detriment of young people’s health, life chances, and reproductive autonomy, the judicial bypass process is no panacea to protect their constitutional rights. In fact, the judicial bypass process causes significant delays for young people seeking abortion care, especially for young people of color and those living in foster care or other state and federal facilities.

When I found out I needed parental consent to get an abortion, it was difficult to understand, because I didn’t have my parents for a lot of things in my life because I was completely independent of them…and didn’t have access to them. And this one obstacle of needing them…it was impossible to get consent from them. Going before the judge was terrifying. Honestly, I felt criminalized. – CoWanda, Texas, 17 years old when obtaining a judicial bypass

II. “Judicial bypass” or judicial waiver process is still a burden. Judge Barrett would likely make it worse.

The U.S. Constitution prohibits a third party from having the ultimate veto power over a young person’s abortion decision. In Bellotti v. Baird and subsequent cases, the Supreme Court made clear that parental involvement laws must include an alternative mechanism that allows a young person who is unable to involve a parent or guardian in their decision to nonetheless obtain an abortion. Most states utilize the “judicial bypass” process to meet this constitutional mandate.

The judicial bypass process forces young people to navigate a labyrinth of institutional rules, local restrictions, and contradictory information. This process is difficult to navigate under normal circumstances, which includes trying to protect their privacy and safety while also having to leave school, home, or work to go to court, sometimes in a small community where they might be known by adults who work in the courthouse, and navigating transportation to and from both the courthouse and clinic.

As a teenager with a strict parent, the process of being able to discretely get my judicial bypass granted and find a way to get to my nearest abortion clinic was hard. I didn’t have a car, money, or support from anyone in my family. It took 21 days for me to get my abortion from the moment I made the decision to get an abortion until I was able to get the care I needed. – Veronika, Texas, age 17 when she obtained abortion care through the judicial bypass process

These barriers pose even more difficulties under the current pandemic where young people are navigating lack of privacy under stay at home orders, diminished provider options, limited court access, and the cumulative burden of an array of restrictions on abortion may prevent young people from getting the timely care they need altogether. Additionally, the judicial bypass

process is harmful because it forces young people, specifically young people of color, to interact with a legal system that historically has targeted and over-criminalized Black, Indigenous and other people of color. Indeed, for some young people, this process can be traumatic. Moreover, its imposition of unnecessary delays also adds to the physical burden a young person needing an abortion may face, because they are forced to have a later abortion procedure. These compounded barriers do not uphold young people’s human rights and dignity when their own healthcare decisions are quite literally put in the hands of another party and institution.

Another significant barrier is access to information about the judicial bypass or waiver process. Even when a young person seeks information to pursue a judicial waiver petition, they too often find court personnel who, if not openly hostile, are uninformed, cannot answer the young person’s questions about the judicial waiver process, or give young people misinformation that may delay or entirely prevent the necessary judicial waiver (see, The Judicial Waiver Process in Florida Courts Report).

Although the judicial bypass is not the solution to forced parental involvement laws and is itself a burden on young people, judicial bypass is a critical protection for youth abortion access that is rooted in Supreme Court precedent. This case serves as a clear sign that her appointment on the Supreme Court puts even the flawed judicial waiver process at risk as an option for young people who are seeking to exercise their constitutional right to end a pregnancy – which would essentially eliminate the right to reproductive self-determination for young people. Research has shown that these increasing state restrictions on youth abortion access have led to more judicial bypass denials in states where they are enacted.

III. Judge Barrett would attempt to dismantle the Reproductive Justice needs of young people, including sexual assault survivors and immigrants.

In addition to her record on attempting to place restrictions on young people’s abortion access, Judge Barrett has also sought to lower the bar for accountability in a case involving student sexual assault. In deciding if he had a claim, Barrett found that John Doe had been deprived of a “protected liberty interest: his freedom to pursue naval service, his occupation of choice,” when the university formally found him guilty of a sexual offense. Young people already face prevalent rates of sexual violence on college campuses and immense obstacles coming forward to report incidents of violence. Her record on sexual assault and Title IX specifically disregards student survivors and portends poorly for her judicial view of laws designed to end gender discrimination.

As a Black woman and someone who survived intimate partner violence throughout my twenties it is alarming that those in power would choose to nominate and confirm someone like Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court given her record on civil rights issues. As I watch continued violence against Black people by the state, a pandemic that is disproportionately affecting Black and brown communities and sit with the alarming rates in which women of color experience intimate partner violence, there is simply other things that Congress can be focusing on besides rushing this nomination process. – Monica, Virginia, 28

Importantly, Judge Barrett’s record on important issues affecting young people of color, including immigration and policing, is deeply harmful. In Day v. Wooten, Barrett joined a decision that granted qualified immunity to police officers after the death of 18-year-old Terrell Day while in police custody. In Cook County v. Wolf, she dissented from a ruling blocking the implementation of the Trump’s administration “public charge” rule, which would force immigrants to risk being separated from their families if they receive certain public benefits – a decision that sanctions denying basic health care, nutrition and housing to people who may be most in need, in the midst of a pandemic.

I have been diagnosed with a reproductive health issue which has been very expensive to treat. In the medical system I was denied the healthcare that I wanted at a Catholic hospital because it could lead to the harm of my reproductive organs. I have also had to take birth control to treat this medical condition. Birth control is important and necessary health care for young people for many reasons. – Hannah, 20, California, Junior at UCLA

As organizations committed to achieving a world where Reproductive Justice is a reality, given her record, confirming Judge Barrett to the highest court in the U.S. would be antithetical to achieving that goal. Amid a global pandemic that has claimed more than 210,000 American lives, hypervisibility of anti-Black police violence, yet another instance in the U.S.’s horrific record of forced sterilization against women of color, further violence committed against those in ICE custody, and continuous restrictions on reproductive health care, those in power are instead choosing to focus on rushing through a judicial confirmation process. If confirmed, Judge Barrett threatens the integrity of the Supreme Court and it is young people who will be negatively impacted for decades by its decisions.

We call on those in power to put young people first and reject the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Sincerely,

Advocates for Youth
If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
Janes’s Due Process
URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity

ACCESS Women’s Health Justice
American Humanist Association
American Nurses Association \California
American Sexual Health Association
Beyond the Bomb
Break the Cycle
California Latinas for Reproductive Justice
Caneiwalk
Carolina Abortion Fund
Center on Reproductive Rights & Justice (CRRJ)
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Chicago Abortion Fund
Clearinghouse on Womens Issues
Coalition of Labor Union Women
Cobalt
Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR)
Deeds Not Words
East Coast Asian American Student Union (ECAASU)
Equality Federation
Equality North Carolina
Feminist Women’s Health Center
Flood Family Law, LLC
Florida Student Power Network
Fund Texas Choice
Gender Justice Generation Ratify
GSA Network
Illinois Collaboration On Youth
International Student Environmental Coalition
International Women’s Health Coalition
Ipas
Japanese American Citizens League
Kentucky Health Justice Network
Law Office of Sheena Chiang, PLLC
Legal Voice
Lilith Fund Lilith Fund
NARAL Pro-Choice America
NARAL Pro-Choice Texas Foundation
National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF)
National Association of Social Workers – Texas Chapter
National Equality Action Team (NEAT)
National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association
National Institute for Reproductive Health
National Network of Abortion Funds
National Organization for Women
National Partnership for Women & Families
National Women’s Law Center
National Youth/Student Council, Japanese American Citizens League
Northern New Jersey NOW
Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Ohio Women’s Alliance
Oil Change International
People’s Parity Project
Physicians for Reproductive Health
Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California
Platform
Population Institute Pro-Choice Arizona
Progress Texas
Rainbow Cafe LGBTQ Center
Red River Women’s Clinic
Scheff & Washington, P.C.
Step Forward Strategies
Student Power Network
Texas Equal Access Fund
Texas Freedom Network
Texas Rising
The Afiya Center
The Raben Group
The Womxn Project
Transgender Law Center
Union for Reform Judaism
We Testify
Whole Woman’s Health Alliance
Women Have Options/ Ohio
Women’s Law Project
WV FREE
Young Invincibles

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George Floyd

We condemn the violent, racist acts of police brutality that continue to permeate our society. The egregious murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, earlier this week, reminds us that the United States is far from achieving justice for ALL. We cannot turn back the hands of time to save the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless other victims of police brutality, but we can demand the justice their grieving families deserve. Past AHA Humanist of the Year, A. Phillip Randolph, once noted that “Justice is never given; it is exacted, and the struggle must be continuous for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing, evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political, and religious relationship.” Now more than ever, we need to continue to evolve to tackle both the overt and covert systemic injustices that are afflicting Black and brown Americans. We remind all humanists, and all Americans, that it is in our power and, indeed, our responsibility to rectify the systems that have failed communities of color, and that Black Lives Matter.

The post AHA Condemns Acts of Police Brutality appeared first on American Humanist Association.

More than 70 nations around the world still have blasphemy laws that endanger the lives of those who do not conform to the state’s official religion or worldview. Christians, Muslims, Hindus, nontheists and other religious minorities are all at risk. These laws have dire consequences; conviction can mean life in prison or a death sentence.

Joint efforts to move the needle have been working. Recently, countries such as Greece, Ireland, and Canada have repealed their blasphemy laws and more are considering bringing these draconian laws to an end. But we won’t win this fight without you. Can you take a moment right now to ask your Representative to co-sponsor H.Res.512?

In today’s divided political climate, Republicans and Democrats have come together to say that this issue is too important for politics. That’s because the issue of religious freedom, which includes the right to believe any faith or none at all, is something that all Americans can support. Will you join us in supporting international religious freedom by asking your Representative to co-sponsor this resolution?

Take Action Now!

The post Action Alert: Support the Repeal of International Blasphemy Laws appeared first on American Humanist Association.

America is currently experiencing a public health crisis, as many Americans are unvaccinated or not fully up to date with their vaccines. As a result, we have seen outbreaks of diseases like measles which had previously been eradicated.

Thankfully, Oregon is looking to do something about this problem. House Bill 3063 was recently introduced and passed the Oregon House of Representatives, and now awaits consideration by the Oregon Senate. This bill would remove the ability for parents to decline required immunizations against diseases on behalf of their child for reasons other than medical considerations. Essentially, if this bill becomes law, all religious and philosophical exemptions from vaccine requirements would be removed, and only medical exemptions would remain.

Can you take a moment right now to ask your State Senator to support this important bill?

As humanists, we have a responsibility to support sound medical and scientific practices which benefits the public’s health, which is why this bill is so important. Ask your State Senator to support vaccinations for all today!

Thank you for helping keep our children safe from preventable illnesses.

Sincerely,

Roy Speckhardt

Executive Director

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