“While I am hopeful these nominees share our commitment to religious pluralism and equality, the Biden Administration has once again missed an opportunity to appoint the first nonreligious person to serve on USCIRF.”
News Archive
News
Anti-Atheist Stigma
American Atheists Denounces Sen. John Kennedy’s Religious Test for Biden Nominee
“Mr. Dellinger deserves a sincere apology for being grilled about his religious beliefs, something that in no way would impact his ability to lead the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice.”
Data Reports
American Atheists Highlights Need for Better Data on Nonreligious Americans and Religious Minorities
Data from this survey shows unequivocally that nonreligious people in the US encounter stigma and discrimination in various aspects of their lives. The US Secular Survey’s findings also demonstrate the need for further population-based research.
Litigation
American Atheists Wins New Victory on Behalf of Harassed Nonreligious Student
“No student should face harassment and retaliation for exercising her First Amendment rights. We are pleased the court stood with free speech and reaffirmed just how outrageous the teacher’s actions were.”
Litigation
Atheists Sue Mississippi Over “In God We Trust” License Plate
“Mississippi car owners should not be punished with higher fees for refusing to promote an exclusionary and divisive message. They are entitled to an alternative.”
Legal Analysis
Supreme Court Rules Discriminatory Religious Practices Outweigh LGBTQ Rights
“With this decision, the Court has continued to chip away at the core principle that laws should apply to everyone, regardless of religion. Whenever conflicts arise, the outcome too often favors conservative Christians, even if it twists the law in knots or contradicts fundamental legal principles.”
Federal Policy
American Atheists’ Statement on Meeting with Biden Administration
American Atheists and other secular organizations met for more than an hour with leadership from the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Legal Analysis
Government Officials Abusing Social Media by Censoring Americans, Including Atheists, Must Be Held Accountable
“With the courts consistently affirming that Americans’ First Amendment rights extend to online space controlled by the government, including government agencies’ social media pages, we have the law on our side—and we must use it.”
State Policy
Connecticut Eliminates Dangerous Religious Exemptions to School Vaccination Requirements
American Atheists urges more states to follow Connecticut’s example and eliminate dangerous exemptions that put children at risk, especially those who can’t be vaccinated for medical reasons
State Policy
Arkansas Creationism Bill Defeated in Tight Vote
By rejecting this creationism bill, Arkansas will be spared unnecessary lawsuits that would drain needed resources from an educational system already ranked near the bottom by measures of student attainment.
Federal Policy
American Atheists Endorses Bill to Expand Supreme Court to 13 Justices
“The Judiciary Act of 2021 is an important first step toward needed reform of the federal judiciary. It will help ensure that ideological capture of the Court does not overturn decades of precedent and will restore balance to the Supreme Court.”
Statement
American Atheists VP on Richard Dawkins’ Comments about Trans People
“Given the repercussions for the millions of trans people in this country, in this one life we have to live, as an atheist and as a trans woman, I hope that Prof. Dawkins treats this issue with greater understanding and respect in the future.”
