American Atheist Magazine - Q3 2022

AMERICAN ATHEIST
A JOURNAL OF ATHEIST NEWS AND THOUGHT

THIRD QUARTER 2022
Nonreligious LGBTQ
People in America
A new report by American Atheists
explores the queer atheist experience.
Abortion Activism: Christian Extremists Christian Nationalist

Where Do We Targeted Our Kid. Jason Rapert
Go from Here? Yours Are Next. Loses to Atheists
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THIRD QUARTER 2022
VOL. 60 – NO. 3
In This Issue
4 President’s Letter: Our Most Powerful

Tool, But Not the Only One
7
6 Quick Hits
7 Nonreligious LGBTQ People in America
14 Atheists Victorious Against Christian

Nationalist Jason Rapert
16 Abort This!
20 Christian Nationalists
Are Coming for Your Children
23 Adopted and Foster Kids Pay the Price
24 Who Actually Loves Their Neighbors—

Christians or Atheists?
26 American Atheists in Action
28 Why I Am an Atheist: Mandisa Thomas
30 Staff Picks
20
American Atheist Magazine
225 Cristiani Street
Cranford, NJ 07016
908.276.7300
[email protected]
Managing Editor
Alyssa Fuller
Content Editor
Tom Van Denburgh
26
Contributing Editors
Geoffrey T. Blackwell, Nick Fish,
Alison Gill, Martina Fern, Samantha
McGuire, Brittany Williams
Production Manager
Debbie Goddard
Editor Emeritus
Frank R. Zindler
Layout and Design
Maple + Birch
American Atheist is published quarterly by American

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Our Most Powerful Tool, But Not the Only One
V
oting is the primary have in a democratic society.” Our
way we shape our ability to act collectively to solve
democracy. But society’s problems is predicated on
without a commit- our decision to vote, our ability to
ment to protecting exercise that right, and whether or
democratic values not our vote makes a difference.
and institutions, it isn’t enough. But two of those parts of the
In the opening paragraphs of the equation—the responsiveness of
1963 Supreme Court case that gave the system to our vote and our
rise to American Atheists, Madalyn ability to cast that vote in the first
Murray O’Hair summarized her place—face grave threats. To be
beliefs as an atheist to the Court. sure, these threats are not new. But
“An atheist strives for involvement the intensity of the attacks and the
in life and not escape into death,” speed at which they are accelerating
she wrote. “He wants disease certainly are.
conquered, poverty vanquished, With the completion of the most
war eliminated.” recent census, fights over congres-
That “involvement in life” is a sional redistricting consumed many
foundational value for all of us as news cycles over the past year. But
atheists, regardless of our individ- less well covered were fights over
ual political views. The knowledge state legislative districts. In multi-
that this is the one life we have to ple perennial swing states, exist-
live motivates us to build a better ing legislative majorities have used
world for ourselves and for those their power to lock in a decade of
who come after us. Whether it’s non-competitive elections, insulat-
something as (seemingly) straight- ing their members from political
forward as making it easier to be accountability.
an atheist in America or something In Georgia, a state that elected
as complex and world-defining as two Democratic Senators in 2020
confronting climate change, our and where the 2018 gubernatorial
involvement in life takes different race was won by Republican Brian
forms depending on the issues we’re Kemp by just 55,000 votes, the
trying to solve. Republican-controlled legislature
Generally, however, individual drew state Senate election maps
steps paired with collective action which have the median Senate seat
make the difference. Right at the 15 points more Republican and the
intersection of those approaches is median House seat 10 points more
voting. Republican than the state as a
The power to vote, as civil rights whole. And in Wisconsin, the state’s
icon John Lewis once said, is the highest court sided with the already
“most powerful nonviolent tool we gerrymandered state legislature in
4 | AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org THIRD QUARTER 2022

a fight with Democratic Governor partisan gerrymandering is the create a feeling of powerlessness,
Tony Evers and chose state House most extreme are far less likely to sow distrust in institutions, and
and Senate maps with even greater have this form of direct democracy lead to disengagement and cyni-
skew than Georgia’s, locking in available to voters. cism. There is no easy answer here.
Republican supermajorities in both Chief Justice Roberts’s decision Simply admonishing our fellow citi-
chambers for another 10 years. in Rucho also ignores the fact that zens to “vote harder” isn’t enough.
While these are two of the most the simple act of voting is becoming Small changes and improvements
egregious examples, they’re not the harder in the first place. According can help, but once confidence in
only ones. Texas, Florida, and Ohio to the nonpartisan Brennan Center the system and trust in institutions
all saw their state houses become for Justice, in 2021, at least 19 states disappear, they’re much harder to
less competitive, less reflective of passed 34 laws restricting access to revive.
their electorate, and less likely to voting, including measures making If conquering disease, vanquish-
respond to changing political pref- it illegal to drop off a friend’s ballot, ing poverty, and eliminating war
erences of their voters. reducing the number of polling are still on our agenda after almost
The U.S. Supreme Court, in its places or early vote days, adding 60 years, it’s vital that we redouble
2019 decision in Rucho v. Common additional barriers to registration, our commitment to democracy and
Cause, ruled that partisan gerry- implementing stricter signature involvement in this life by fighting
mandering is not an issue federal matching, and even prohibiting the to expand voting access, end polit-
courts can weigh in on. The solu- distribution of water or snacks to ical gerrymandering, and create a
tion, Chief Justice Roberts wrote in voters waiting in line. more responsive political system.
his 5–4 majority decision, is at the In Pennsylvania, state lawmak- The cliché that we have to “vote
ballot box, not in the courtroom. ers have been litigating over like our rights depend on it” is, in
In states where voter-initiated whether or not a simple error—omit- this case, true. But the act of voting
ballot measures ting a date on the isn’t enough. True believers—and
a r e av a i l a ble, Our belief that this outer envelope of rank opportunists—pushing elec-
people have done a mail-in ballot— tion denialism will fan the flames
just that. Voters life isn’t a dress is enough to void of conspiracy theories and use the
i n C a l i for n i a , rehearsal for some an otherwise legal outcomes of races, win or lose, to
C olor ado, a nd vote. In Texas, new justify further restrictions on the
Michigan enacted mystic afterlife requirements for right to vote. Their actions will
independent redis- demands that we absentee ballots further undermine confidence in
tricting commis- s eemed i nten- our systems, leading voters further
sions through state fight like hell for our tionally designed down the path toward disengage-
ballot initiatives, values while we can. to make it harder ment and nihilism.
taking control of to vote. St ate There’s no magic antidote here.
their redistricting plans away from lawmakers can hardly claim igno- But our belief that this life isn’t a
politicians. The results are crys- rance about the effects of these laws. dress rehearsal for some mystic
tal clear: the maps drawn by these Remi Garza, an election official afterlife demands that we fight like
independent commissions are more in Cameron County, told The New hell for our values while we can.
competitive, more reflective of the York Times, “We anticipated this, we And voting is just the first part of
state’s overall partisan makeup, and expressed it to the Legislature, but that fight.
more transparently drawn. it went unheeded.”
But only about half of states These major structural obstacles
have this option in the first to voting—and to political respon- Nick Fish
place. And it should come as no siveness—are bad enough on their President
surprise that the states where own. But then they combine to American Atheists
THIRD QUARTER 2022 AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org | 5

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW QUICK HITS
Secular Caucuses Take
Action to Protect Church-
State Separation
Nonreligious Americans Will Likely Outnumber
Since its founding in 2018, the
U.S. Christians by 2070
Congressional Freethought Caucus
America’s future is nonreligious, according to a (CFC) has been fighting to protect the
September Pew report. If Americans leave Christianity separation of religion and government.
at current rates, Christians would represent 46% of the With Christian nationalism on the
population and nonreligious people 41% by 2070. However, rise, this work has become even more
experts predict that Americans will empty the pews at an important.
accelerated rate. If dechristianization speeds up but only In July of this year, Representative
mildly, U.S. “nones” would outnumber Christians by 2060 Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael),
and represent 48% of the population by 2070 (versus 39% co-founder and co-chair of the
Christian). However, we may have a full-blown Christian CFC, introduced the Health Share
exodus on our hands. If so, the nonreligious could be Transparency Act. This essential bill
more numerous than Christians by as early as 2050. In would protect Americans from health
that scenario, by 2070 we would be 52% of the population sharing ministries. These decep-
and Christians would only be 35%. Here’s to the future. tive religious organizations purpose-
fully masquerade as insurance with
affordable copays and a huge provider
Majority of Republicans Want a Christian Nation network. But when it comes time to pay
your medical bills, nothing is forcing
According to a poll released in September, a majority
them to do so. And the only appeals
of Republicans want to make the U.S. a Christian nation
process is to the ministries themselves.
despite knowing that’d be unconstitutional. Researchers
Rep. Huffman’s bill helps spotlight this
Stella Rouse and Shibley Telhami of the University of
important issue.
Maryland’s Critical Issues Poll first asked whether the
In March 2020, the Family Research
Constitution would even allow the United States govern-
Council (FRC), an extremist political
ment to declare the U.S. a “Christian Nation.” 70% of
organization, successfully applied to
Americans—including 57% of Republicans and 81% of
the IRS to become a church. The investi-
Democrats—said that the Constitution would not allow
gative news agency ProPublica revealed
such a declaration. 61% of Republicans supported declar-
this alarming fact in a July 2022 arti-
ing the United States a Christian nation, while only 17%
cle. In August, the Congressional
of Democrats did so. “I never want to hear the phrase
Freethought Caucus called on the IRS to
‘Constitutional Conservative’ from any of these people ever
review FRC’s status, drawing attention
again,” said our president Nick Fish, as reported by VICE.
to this problem. “Tax-exempt organiza-
tions should not be exploiting tax laws
Louisiana Public School Students Tricked Into applicable to churches to avoid public
Christian Indoctrination Event accountability and the IRS’s examina-
tion of their activities,” the members
In September, more than 2,100 public school students wrote in their letter.
from Baton Rouge, Louisiana hopped on school buses to In October, the first state-level free-
attend what was supposed to be a college fair. They soon thought caucus formed. Minnesota
discovered that they had been tricked into a massive lawmakers launched a “Secular
church service called “Day of Hope.” Brittney Bryant, a Government Caucus” to stop theoc-
teacher and mother of a senior, said her transgender child racy and the further erosion of church-
was discriminated against at that event. The religious orga- state separation. One co-founder,
nization behind the effort, 29:11 Mentoring Families, had Senator John Marty, is Lutheran, while
female students talk about suicide, rape, and forgiving the Representative Mike Freiberg and
offender. “We had females in the bathrooms crying due to Jennifer McEwen are nonreligious. And
the topics of discussion,” said Bryant. On the other side, 20 more lawmakers have joined this
the Christian organization egged the boys on to compete caucus. American Atheists is working to
athletically in extreme heat. “The majority of students help launch similar lawmaker caucuses
were not only disappointed by this event, but traumatized, and address Christian nationalism in
as well,” explained one student. more states.

COVER STORY
Nonreligious
LGBTQ People
in America
This new report by American Atheists TikTok sensation JeGaysus strikes
explores the queer atheist experience. a pose during AACon2022.
Photo Credit: Josiah Mannion
O
ve r t he p a s t of nonreligious LGBTQ Americans, participants.
de c ade, more and it considers how being both Joining a local atheist group
and more LGBTQ LGBTQ and nonreligious has a and a national organization like
and nonreligious compounding effect on the stigma American Atheists can make a
Americans have and discrimination experienced. difference. LGBTQ participants who
been coming out. Our report found that LGBTQ were members of a national secular
From 2014 to 2021, LGBTQ identifi- participants faced significantly organization were 28.3% less likely
cation almost doubled from 3.7% to more hardships for being nonreli- than nonmembers to be at risk for
7.1%. Over the same time period, gious than their cisgender, hetero- depression, and members of local
nonreligious people increased sexual peers. For example, LGBTQ organizations were 20.2% less likely
from 22.8% of the population to nonbelievers were much more to be at risk for depression.
29%. As two groups that have faced likely to experience discrimina- The atheist community and the
religiously inspired hatred, we are tion and stigma in the military, LGBTQ community must continue
natural allies fighting together for education, mental health services, to create positive change by
our rights. reproductive care, and substance supporting one another.
In August, we released our abuse services. This likely impacts
report, Nonreligious LGBTQ People mental health. Researchers found
in America, counting 7,759 nonre- that more than one quarter (27.9%) Learn more about the Nonreli-
ligious LGBTQ participants (22.9% of LGBTQ participants screened gious LGBTQ People in America
of the nearly 34,000-person total positive for depression—compared report at SecularSurvey.org.
sample). This is the largest study to 13.8% of cisgender, heterosexual

Everybody’s Hot
Except Haters
By Alyssa Fuller
O
ne of my core memo- My instructor called my grandfa- I read everything I could find that
ries of queerness is ther directly. She must’ve thought Sappho The Forbidden had written.
being maliciously he’d be an ally. I’ve struggled with platonic rela-
outed to my family My instructor announced to him tionships for most of my life. I had
by a public school that she feared I was a lesbian. My crushes on everyone: the long-
teacher—someone who should have room was across from my grand- haired boy in preschool who was
had my back. parents’, and I only learned what misgendered by all the adults; the
I was in fourth grade, so I must she’d said later, but I was an expert obnoxious redheaded kid in first
have been nine or ten at the time. at eavesdropping, and I heard my grade; my elementary school best
My gifted education program grandfather’s gruff reply. friend, a doe-eyed, pointy-chinned
consisted of pulling us out of class “SO WHAT?” He hung up the Iranian-American girl half my size.
twice a week for student-directed phone. Wherever she is now, I hope she’s
study. Unbeknownst to my homopho- gay, and I hope she’s happy.
I loved poetry—still do, even the bic instructor, and unbeknownst I practiced kisses with a freckled
cringey stuff. For one assignment, to me, we’d weathered this before girl who copied my drawing style.
I chose to study the work and life of as a family. My grandfather’s only I held hands with a shy blond boy
a particular poet, reflect on some of son is gay. We never I called every night
their well-known pieces, and write talked about it, and for a year. Then
a poem in their unique style. I don’t think I real- I read everything puberty hit, and my
Friends, I picked Sappho. ized until a few I could find that crushes expanded
My mother was a kindergarten years later why exponentially.
teacher at the same school, just Uncle Gary never Sappho The I went to a sort
down the hallway, the primary got married, why Forbidden had of summer camp,
contact on my school records. “our cousin Greg” t he Center for
My instructor did not contact my who lived with him written. Talented Youth, in
mother. never did either. Pennsylvania at
My grandfather, who lived with I didn’t fully understand why I thirteen. There, I was an out-and-
us, was also a career educator, a had to change the poet I chose for proud bisexual for the first time in
giant in Virginia literacy and advo- my class. I disengaged, half-assed what seemed like a sea of the same.
cacy circles and a principal for a project on e.e. cummings, and I was polyamorous before I knew
many years. He was also a very received glowing praise from my the word.
religious man with a booming bari- instructor, who I avoided as much Hormones raged. Hearts got
tone we called his “pastor voice.” as possible for the rest of the year. broken. I fell in love about seventeen

Nonreligious LGBTQ People in America
different times in the course of four- mom about being bisexual and not-my-gender, whatever that is.
teen days. An older boy who wore depressed, and she found it on my I keep my hair long because I
Devo shirts every day tried to kill floor one day. I got therapy and birth don’t like getting haircuts more than
himself and didn’t even get sent control pretty quickly after that. once a year. I still like dresses and
home, just showed back up with I studied poetry at a magnet jewelry sometimes, and still alter-
stitches and bandaged wrists. A girl- school, the first graduating class nate with men’s shirts and pants.
friend snuck into of t he C e nt e r I’m married—monogamously,
my dorm room at for the Fine and even!—to a wonderful, obnoxious,
night and read me I’m proud to say Performing Arts at redheaded cis guy, like one of my
what she thought we early CFPA Woodbridge High first crushes. I still struggle with
were t he mos t School. I read a depression. I still thrive best with
romantic passages students built the sapphic-a s-hel l support in the LGBTQ+ and atheist
imaginable: all of foundations of a poem aloud at a communities, like so many of us.
the Winston and black-tie event for I’m still coming out, constantly—the
Julia scenes from program so gay our school board curse and the privilege of the hete-
1984. Within days it later attracted and superinten- ro-passing bisexual. And of course, I
she’d split apart a dent. I’m proud to still have crushes on everybody: my
couple who’d been protests from say we early CFPA friends, my allies, and my commu-
monogamous for Westboro Baptist students built the nity members are all so impressive,
two summers in a foundations of a amazing, and deserving of love. 🅐
row—an eternity at Church. program so gay
that age. Furious, it later attracted
I let some little creep finger me in protests from Westboro Baptist
a closet. He wrote me letters for Church.
years. In those formative years, I didn’t
That girlfriend and the kid in the have the rich language of identity
Devo shirts stayed the full summer, and labels I see now in the LGBTQ+
while their parents were vacation- community. I don’t identify as trans,
ing without them. The rest of us but I’ve had pretty visceral reactions
exchanged phone numbers and to women-only spaces and events.
went home stunned. We tried to I don’t object to being described
figure out how to fit back into our as she/her, but a little piece of me
daily lives after being transformed, beams when friends mix it up with
after exploring and becoming closer other pronouns, with “my guy,”
to our true selves. “man,” “bro.” Being pregnant was a
I made a conscious decision to nightmare of dysphoria, but I don’t
wear more skirts, bigger jewelry, mind my body before and after, and
and to dress more butch when I I don’t mind “Mama.” I tried out the
wasn’t in a skirt. I cut off the sleeves term “pansexual” for a few years to
of Army surplus clothes from thrift be more inclusive before defaulting Alyssa Fuller is American Atheists’
Membership Manager and Managing
stores, wore men’s shirts over tank back to bisexual—I am attracted to Editor for American Atheist magazine.
tops. I wrote a secret letter to my people close to my own gender and

My Lived Experience as an
Atheist in the Qmmunity
By Killian Bowen
I
think some would say I had a attempts on his life. All of this has sometimes being aware seems like
unique experience growing made for a very complex relation- a burden I didn’t ask for. My athe-
up as a queer Appalachian ship with death, and thus religion. ism comforts and terrifies me in the
atheist in rural Kentucky. Religion arose to help us cope same breath for these reasons.
I’ve a lways presented with our mortality. There’s not a There are pros and cons to being
masculine of center despite being day that goes by I don’t wish I could theistic or not. All that aside, theism
born a biological female. I’m a text- believe in something to give me affects us all differently. I’d say my
book transgender man, but my rela- comfort in knowing my life would journey was a bit off the beaten
tionship with religion is undeniably go on after death. I don’t believe path. Though my stepfather was a
intertwined with my identity just as deconversion is an event some of us Cherokee native, he still believed in
much, if not more than my LGBT have control over. I think it happens a deity. After his death, my mother, a
status. to us. A lot of people have asked lifelong Southern Baptist, was roped
A lot of the cynicism I display me, “What would it take to make into the Pentecostal church, which
that people attribute to my atheism you believe?” And at some point in is very popular in my neck of the
really comes from my lived experi- my atheism, I accepted that noth- woods. Though they have some very
ences, and my proximity to death. I ing could convince me. Perhaps I charming features, their services
was raised in the back of a funeral haven’t hallucinated enough to be can be a bit intense and jarring to
home because sure of my position. some. To 11-year-old me, it was just
my stepdad was I don’t believe A not her way another Tuesday. Once I got away
a mortician—yet I battle with this from Eastern Kentucky, I learned
somehow I never deconversion is idea is that I’m how outsiders see them.
saw one damn ghost
the entire time we
an event some of aware I’m free from
divine persecution
While I was in the throes of God’s
wrath, my relationship with religion
lived there! Trust us have control for being queer, was shaped by my queerness. I hit
me, I went look- but I will never get puberty around the time my mother
ing, too. I’ve also
over. I think it a chance to expe- really got into God. She would often
watched so many happens to us. rience everlasting mail off her last dollar to a televan-
family members life. I’ve seen so gelist who promised blessings that
pass away from cancer. My home much suffering occur before my would never come. Even as a child,
county ranks #22 for highest cancer eyes, yet I can still see an inherent it infuriated me that someone would
rates in the nation. My father strug- preciousness about life that I can’t profit from someone else’s grief and
gled with suicide for most of his life. quite explain. I cling onto life from hopelessness. These experiences
Sometimes I even witnessed his the sheer unlikelihood of it, yet oddly enough gave me a sense of

empathy for the vulnerability that comes from a place of resilience, I didn’t really see in more urban
fundamentalists prey on. I under- and I think a lot of queer folks can groups.
stand why my mother flocked to it. relate to that. Rejecting the popu- The differences in experiences
Her husband had just died, and we lar notion that we should hate who among queer atheists is stark and
were in financial ruin—about to lose we are is a radical act. Sometimes deserves to be acknowledged. It can
everything. She was reaching up for this gets overlooked when we focus never hurt to spread a sense of empa-
hope because she on the falsehood of thy in our communities whether it
couldn’t find it by religion rather than be for one group or another. I think
reaching out.
While I was in the actual harm it if I had to have a goal in writing this,
In the midst of the throes of creates. it would be that. I know I’m always
all this, we were Whether it be hungry for a new perspective, and
a l l d iscover ing
God’s wrath, my giving the pover- atheists are typically curious indi-
Something Wasn’t relationship with ty-ridden hillbillies viduals. All this to say it’s a chang-
Right about me. I of Appalachia false ing world. Let’s make it change for
was increasingly religion was shaped hope or preach- the better. 🅐
masculine acting, by my queerness. ing the young into
and presenting. I conformity, reli-
remember my older sister telling my gion made my environment toxic.
mother once that she thought I was Leaving it behind is liberating
gay, and my mom scolded her for the beyond comprehension when you
suggestion. I remember being so come from a place of oppression.
attached to the idea of being a man. Once I traded the lies for real hope,
I often dreamt about it and woke up it really changed things for me. I
sorely disappointed. For a period, was able to propel myself forward
the Pentecostal church managed to while I watched everyone around
stomp that out of me with the fire- me being held back.
and-brimstone mantra. I often wish That’s why I think it’s so import-
there was more I could do to stop this ant that we reach into these rural
religious trauma from occurring. communities and give them the
Unfortunately some things we tools and resources they need to
can’t change, but I want to change create space for these stories to
what I can. I do that by stepping out be told, for these conversations to
Killian Bowen is a Grant Accountant
of my comfort zone with my activ- be had. I started a chapter of the at the only HBCU in Kentucky. They
ism. I’m generally not a very extro- Secular Student Alliance at my became involved with American
verted individual, but if telling my college, Morehead State University. Atheists in 2017 while organizing
with the Secular Student Alliance
story helps someone relate to grow- It was distinctly different from other
in Morehead, Kentucky against the
ing up queer in the South, I think I groups by being more of a support homophobic Kim Davis.. In 2019, he was
can say I’ve done something. group than an academic or activist awarded Diversity Program of the Year at
When I think of the atheist expe- group. A lot of the people who came Morehead State University. He continues
to be involved in local activism with
rience in relation to queerness, it’s to our meetings were healing from Lexington Atheists and Frontrunners
not some hyper-intellectual expla- a lifetime of religious trauma. This Lex, an LGBTQ+ run/walk group.
nation that I think of. My perspective created a tight bond among us that

Our Debt to Past Liberation

Movements
By Steven C. LOWE
I
was a late bloomer. I was 25 I was 50 when I discovered and family, similar to coming out
before I accepted and admit- Humanism and the f lowering as gay. How was I to tell them I was
ted to myself that I was gay. atheist and non-god-believing not what they thought or wanted
I reluctantly, yet honestly, movement, just when the “Four me to be and still keep their friend-
put myself into a group of Horsemen” were publishing their ship and support? I discovered on
stigmatized, hated, rejected people, movement-building books. By that the American Atheists website a
who were still criminal at the time. time, I was old enough to realize “Guide to Coming Out as Atheist”
It was empowering. I discovered gay how much both of those socially (since removed). It was so similar
groups, media, heroes, and history liberating movements owed to to how to come out as gay. It made
that had been hidden from me that the women’s movement and to the me say: I have personal experience
made me proud and stronger. racial civil rights movements. I had in this, I can do it. Both taboos—
missed out on participating in all being gay and atheist—are “hide-
of them out of my youth and/or fear able,” unlike gender or race; gay
and timidity. atheists can “pass” in society with-
But at age 50, in out the negative
the 2000s, I real- I decided I would consequences. But
ized I wasn’t too late this is ultimately
to join and partici- not hide. I would be self-destructive and
pate in the New OUT about all of it. self-harming. So,
Atheist movement: being more mature,
the Coming Out of the Closet of free- financially stable, and emotionally
thinkers, atheists and humanists. stronger, I decided I would not hide.
So, I joined half a dozen organiza- I would be OUT about all of it.
tions and read and read and read At age 50, in an unplanned spon-
and attended many, many confer- taneous conversation about reli-
ences. I had found my people, like gion with my parents, I admitted
when I joined gay society years that I was no longer Christian, but
earlier. This time, I was not afraid an atheist and Humanist. I took a
Steven C. LOWE is a former Peace Corps
Volunteer teacher and retired from
of being in a tabooed group. I was leap, a deep breath, and added that I
business life in Washington, DC. He is not too late to be a warrior, a partic- was gay, and, …. that I was attracted
a seven-year member of the Board of ipant in—and not just a beneficiary to men of color! This part they had
Directors of American Atheists and a
of—this movement. guessed, but it was “taboo” to speak
promoter of The Great Agnostic, Robert G.
Ingersoll. This open participation involved of. I was “all in,” as they say. I don’t
“coming out” in public, to my friends know what they considered worse:

The Only Legal Podcast for
Atheists and Agnostics Hosted
Completely by Women Lawyers
that I was gay, an atheist, or dated
Black men!
I came to realize how much I had
benefited from the very successful
gay rights movement—mostly as an
observer and late-comer to the activ-
ism and the marches. I realized how
much we gays owed to the earlier
women’s and Black civil rights move-
ments and how they had paved the
way for empowering other minori-
ties and oppressed people. They had
modeled the courage and power of
working together, and speaking out Alison Gill Rebecca Markert
American Atheists FFRF
against the oppressing conservative
majority in mainstream America.
The gay rights movement demon-
strated how powerful “coming out of
the closet” can be, just how winning
and persuasive it is to be authen-
tic and show your true self. These
examples helped me “come out” as
an atheist and Humanist and join,
in a very active way, the new, young
freethought movement, which is
still moving and growing.
Religion, the churches, their
agents, and their books have been
the inspiration and justification
for homophobia. They have caused Monica Miller Elizabeth Cavell
American Humanist Association FFRF
families to reject their LGBTQ chil-
dren, and society to consider us
outcasts, tabooed, and stigmatized. We Dissent is a monthly podcast by four
I have to wonder: why are any gay secular women, who are powerhouse
people STILL religious or members
of such organizations? There are, I
attorneys at the major secular
believe, many potential members organizations in the U.S.
of the atheist movement to be found
in the LGBTQ community. If they Join us as we discuss developments affecting the
only knew we existed! Removing separation of church and state in the U.S. Supreme
the taboo of atheism and raising Court and lower federal courts, and as we explore
awareness of the existence of athe- other advocacy work to help atheists and other
ist history, heroes, and groups is a nonreligious people outside the courtroom.
job we should all be doing. 🅐
we-dissent.org
Atheists Victorious Against Christian
Nationalist Jason Rapert
Jason Rapert called our lawsuit against him “frivolous.”
Ultimately, he was forced to settle and to unblock his social media
critics, and Arkansas taxpayers footed the bill.
I
n August, after nearly out-of-pocket costs in the case. Lawmakers, an extremist organi-
four years of litiga- He must also unblock from social zation that claims to have member
tion, American Atheists media all named plaintiffs. “This is lawmakers in all 50 states and
successfully settled our a victory for free- Puerto Rico. It has
lawsuit against Arkansas dom of speech and
St ate Senator Ja son equality for athe-
Jason Rapert wants spread harmful
model bills across
Rapert. One of the most dangerous ists,” said Geoffrey to turn Arkansas— t h e c o u n t r y,
Christian nationalists in America, T. Blackwell, our including legis-
Rapert had repeatedly discrimi- Litigation Counsel.
and our country— lation similar to
nated against his atheist constit- Who is Senator into a theocracy. Texas Senate Bill
uents and violated their freedom Rapert, and why 8, the vigilante
of speech on social media. Facing is he such a dangerous Christian abortion ban.
likely defeat, Rapert agreed to a nationalist? Rapert leads the In Arkansas, Rapert sponsored a
$16,000 settlement that covers our National Association of Christian law requiring a Ten Commandments

monument outside the State Capitol
and helped force “In God We Trust”
displays into every classroom
to indoctrinate children. After
If Christian nationalists don’t
Obergefell v. Hodges made same-sex respect their constituents’ freedom
marriage legal nationwide in 2015,
Rapert filed a bill in Arkansas in 2017 of speech, we will stand against
to amend the U.S. Constitution and
limit marriage to only heterosex- them, and we will win.
ual couples. In 2019, he introduced
an outright abortion ban without of the named plaintiffs, agreed. “I have to get tickled,” Rapert
exceptions for rape, incest, or even “True leadership would encompass repeated. “You just start counting
the life of pregnant Arkansans. And common sense policies to improve the days. When [American Atheists]
in July of this year, he called for a the lives of Arkansans, not spend reads this provision ... How is that
bill that would ban Arkansans from tax dollars putting on dramatic if you can’t hold civil office as an
crossing state lines to get abortion performances using antiquated atheist in the Arkansas Constitution
care. That legislation is so extreme ideals and stale rhetoric,” she said. and you can’t testify as a witness in
that Governor Asa Hutchinson, who Yet the day after our successful court, how is it that they have even
signed Rapert’s complete abortion settlement announcement, Rapert brought all this stuff against me?”
ban into law, opposes it. put on another dramatic perfor- Rapert went for a gotcha moment,
Jason Rapert wants to turn mance—and it was embarrassing. but it was a miserable failure. In a
Arkansas—and our country—into On Facebook Live, Rapert—who display of his ignorance, Rapert
a theocracy. But our victory against lacks legal training—proclaimed failed to recognize that the U.S.
him is a reminder to all Christian that “anybody that is an atheist, Constitution trumps the Arkansas
nationalist officials that they are not that doesn’t believe, cannot hold a Constitution. And according to
above the law. They must respect civil office in the state of Arkansas.” Article VI of the U.S. Constitution:
the Constitution. They must respect He referenced Article 19 from the “No religious Test shall ever be
free speech—and that includes Arkansas Constitution, written in required as a Qualification to any
use of their official social media 1874, which states: “No person who Office or public Trust under the
accounts for government business. denies the being of a God shall hold United States.” Rapert also failed
As the Supreme Court has recog- any office in the civil departments to acknowledge the 1961 Supreme
nized, social media platforms of this State, nor be competent to Court case Torcaso v. Watkins, which
“provide perhaps the most powerful testify as a witness in any Court.” reaffirmed that the Constitution
mechanisms available to a private Rapert explained, “I want to thank a prohibits states and the federal
citizen to make his or her voice very, very, very, uh, good Arkansas government from requiring any
heard” (Packingham v. North Carolina friend who sent me [this] interesting kind of religious test for public
2017). In other words, Christian provision today. I had to get tickled office.
nationalist officials cannot work about it.” Rapert went on to cite Psalm 37:
to establish a theocracy and then Rapert unwittingly comes off as “God laughs at his enemies.” We’re
block and silence their atheist crit- misinformed and patronizing in the the ones laughing at Sen. Rapert.
ics who call them out. video. “I would like all of the consti- If Christian nationalists don’t
“We encourage atheists—and all tutional scholars to go out and find respect their constituents’ freedom
Americans—to speak out against out whether there had ever been a of speech, we will stand against
Jason Rapert’s and all Christian vote of the people of Arkansas to them, and we will win. The first step
nationalists’ hateful attacks on rescind the Constitution that says toward holding Christian national-
reproductive rights and religious that no person that doesn’t believe ists accountable is to show that they
freedom. We will continue to in God—an atheist—none of them can’t get away with violating the
defend their right to do so,” said can actually serve in civil office or Constitution of the United States.
our president, Nick Fish, in a state- testify in a court of law as a witness. And our victory against Rapert is
ment. Catherine Shoshone, one That’s your homework for tonight.” just the beginning. 🅐

WASHINGTON, DC - May 3, 2022:
Pro-choice demonstrators hold up signs
at a protest at the U.S. Supreme Court.
photo: Philip Yabut / Shutterstock.com

Abort This!
The Religious Right has long had abortion
in its sights. Now that their twisted dream
is a reality, here’s what we can do.
by Devon Graham, PhD
A
bortion has been the single most polarizing issue
in politics for nearly 30 years. It shouldn’t be. The vast
majority of Americans, particularly the religiously un-
affiliated, support its legality. As we see from American
Atheists’ Nonreligious Women in America report, atheists—
and especially atheist women—overwhelmingly view
access to abortion and contraception as a policy priority.

It’s only after this crew wrapped a woman’s bodily
autonomy in a blanket of biblical patriarchy with a
sprinkling of some cherry-picked Bible verses that
abortion became the divisive issue it is today.
To absolutely no one’s surprise, these been idle deliberations. We’ve 2. Vote, and vote pro-choice!
the anti-abortion movement is been dealing with draconian abor-
deeply rooted in white Christian tion bans and assaults on reproduc- 3. Participate in marches and
nationalism. After Brown v. Board tive health for years now, all while rallies, which allow you to inter-
of Education, white Christians in any protections afforded by Roe act with like-minded folks and
the South opened “segregation v. Wade were intact. But since the organize. But don’t show up with
academies,” private Christian Dobbs decision annihilated Roe in clothes-hanger imagery. (Most
schools admitting only whites, in June, complete bans are going into abortions are self-managed, i.e.,
an attempt to fight effect. done via medication.)
desegregat ion. This hatred for T he quest ion
One of the more remains, what the 4. Have conversations with anti-
egregious exam- reproductive hell can we do now? choice friends and family on
ples, Bob Jones autonomy has We l l , t o b e why access to abortion, contra-
University, battled completely honest, ception, and comprehensive sex
this “governmental been fomenting not much. As we’ve ed is essential for society. This
interference” well for decades. seen, Roe didn’t can be an arduous process, but
into the 1980s. But stop state legisla- centering the conversations
when Jerry Falwell and his Moral tures from imposing some of the on personal stories can plant
Majority lackeys realized that school most extreme restrictions on bodily that ever-so-vital seed that may
segregation wasn’t the political autonomy enacted in developed slowly change their minds.
wedge issue it once was, they needed countries. But there are things you
a new target: abortion. Before then, can do to prepare for the battles that Next: join the well-established
most Americans—white Christians are ahead. networks, funds, and advocacy
included—supported abortion and There are what I’ll call micro- groups in your area. I know you’re
the right to choose. steps—these happen on a small fired up. You want to do something,
It’s only after this crew wrapped scale, but they can be very import- but don’t create your own organiza-
a woman’s bodily autonomy in a ant in the long run: tion. Do. Not. Reinvent. The. Wheel.
blanket of biblical patriarchy with The people already on the ground
a sprinkling of some cherry-picked 1. Donate to reproductive advo- know what’s best for their commu-
Bible verses that abortion became cacy groups and abortion funds. nity. They don’t need someone barg-
the divisive issue it is today. Go to AbortionFunds.org to find ing in on their territory and messing
This hatred for reproductive your local abortion fund (or one up their system. Join a repro advo-
autonomy has been fomenting for in need), and then donate direct- cacy group and volunteer with them.
decades. And by no means have ly to that fund. Learn from them before you make

Devon Graham speaks on the
Florida Capitol steps at a Bans Off
Our Bodies rally in May 2022.
As we’ve seen, suggestions. The groundwork for

these systems was laid long ago;
like Tina Marshall (featured in our
2022 Q2 issue), redirect the protest-
Roe didn’t stop organizers need help to get the work ers’ attention from the patients to
done. the defender, allowing patients to
state legislatures If you live near a clinic and are get the healthcare they need with
ready to be down in the trenches, as little external stress as possible.
from imposing consider becoming a clinic escort Are you more policy-minded?
some of the or defender. Anti-choice activists

hound abortion clinics non-stop:
Great, you’ve got your work cut out
for you. We often think of repro-
most extreme screaming at patients, shaming
them for wanting access to (gasp!)
ductive legislation at the federal
and state level, but one of the most
restrictions on healthcare, recording their iden-
tity—like writing down their license
successful tactics of the anti-choice
crowd has been to focus locally.
bodily autonomy plate numbers—
and manipulating
To w n s a c r o s s
A me r ic a h ave
enacted in them by forcing If you live near a become “sanctu-
them to park else- clinic and are ready ary cities for the
developed where and then
to be down in the
unborn.” W hy?
luring them to Because anti-abor-
countries. fake clinics so they trenches, consider t i o n a c t i v i s t s
miss their actual lobbied their city
appoint ment s. becoming a clinic councils to pass
C l i n ic e s c or t s escort or defender. these resolutions.
safely usher In fact, the contro-
patients into the clinics, shielding versial citizen bounty component
them from protesters. They do not of Texas’ recent abortion ban (SB 8)
interact with the extremists. originated from local resolutions.
If, however, you’re a bit more In Florida, we have been able to
sassy and enjoy engaging anti- successfully mount a defense against
choice activists, clinic defense the local anti-choice resolutions.
may be for you. Clinic defenders, Led by grassroots organizations like

the Women’s Voices of SW Florida, here in more conservative areas like unless one considers the whole
a resolution to ban abortions in Tallahassee. It can be done. picture. What good is having the
conservative Manatee County— For the budget hawks out there, choice to have an abortion, or to
where there is not even an abortion the state budget can contain a trea- have a child, if the closest medical
clinic—was stopped. To stop these, sure trove of funds going to anti-abor- clinic is 100 miles away? Or if you
you need to follow your municipal- tion groups, all buried in fine print. can’t afford your rent? If you are
ity’s notices for meeting announce- I am a member of the Floridians under the constant threat of gun
ments. Most local governments for Reproductive Freedom coali- violence? Without access, there is
must announce any upcoming reso- tion and its Fake Clinic work group. no choice.
lutions to be voted We learned that The Dobbs decision means that
upon in advance. Roe is dead. In the meantime, we
Building a coalition
When restrictions the Florida legisla-
ture gives at least must focus on RJ and guarantee folks
with like-minded are placed on $4 million per year have autonomy over their bodies and
groups and individ- to fake clinics that their reproductive health. There are
uals, attending the
reproductive actively prosely- few, if any, nonreligious objections
meetings, submit- health, some tize to and intimi- to abortions. As atheists, it’s incum-
ting comments, and
testifying against groups will suffer date clients seeking
abortion care, all
bent upon us to take up this mantle,
fighting in the legislatures for repro-
the proposal are more than others. while refusing to ductive rights. Meanwhile, we must
necessary to defeat keep medical infor- continue to advocate for justice so
these hateful policies. mation private (unlike actual abor- that everyone has what they need to
Do you live in a municipality that tion clinics). Understanding where make necessary life choices. 🅐
values reproductive access? Ask your your taxpayer dollars are going is
electeds to pass a resolution affirm- crucial to stop these groups from
ing your community’s commitment manipulating others.
to the right to an abortion. The Finally—and this is the most
best way to do this is to work with a crucial step in a post-Roe world—we
group or coalition that is willing to all have to change to a reproductive
put forth the effort and draft a reso- justice (RJ) mindset. RJ was started
lution. (If you would like templates by Black women decades ago, and
or sample language, please feel it recognizes that abortion is not a
free to contact me.) Together, target stand-alone issue. The decision to
a commissioner, board member, have an abortion or start a family
etc., who will serve as a champion is contingent on so many factors:
that will propose the resolution finances, housing, environmen-
and proceed to drum up support tal conditions, healthcare options,
with other elected members. Even familial support, one’s physical
if you have a council that is willing safety, and more. When restrictions
to take this on and vote positively, are placed on reproductive health,
be prepared for a fight from the some groups will suffer more than
opposition. They play dirty, putting others. Let’s face it. As a white, cis, Devon Graham is a research scientist
with a PhD in toxicology. She joined the
calls out for anti-choice folks from middle-class woman, I will always American Atheists team as Assistant
across the country to overwhelm have a way to access any reproduc- State Director for Tallahassee in 2019.
the commissioners with hundreds, tive care I need. Hence, RJ centers She quickly became involved in state
level advocacy, testifying in the Florida
if not thousands, of phone calls. We the conversation on those most
State House and Senate to oppose the
have been able to propose and pass affected by restrictions on repro- wave of Christian nationalist bills
resolutions supporting reproductive ductive care: Black, Brown, and introduced and winning our “Rising
rights throughout the state, includ- Indigenous folks. Star Award” for 2020. In 2021, she was
named American Atheists’ Activist of
ing in Miami Beach, Hallandale The individual choice to have an the Year. [email protected]
Beach, St. Petersburg, and even abortion means absolutely nothing

Christian Nationalists
Are Coming for Your Children
by Rose Morgan
I
n this summer’s Kennedy power over their players. Coaches What if a teacher went further and
v. Bremerton School District decide who gets more play time and decided to use their religious beliefs
decision, the Supreme influence how the players interact as a framework for how they taught
Court ruled in favor of a with one another. their classes? In
Washington high school
football coach who pros-
Teachers also
hold a position
The health teacher West Virginia, my
family had to find
elytized to students. Players would of great power began by asking her out the answer to
join in on their coach’s 50-yard over children. If a that question the
prayer immediately after each teacher announced
students what the hard way.
game. Some students admitted that they would be Bible said about sex. When my step-
they only participated because they pray ing dur ing daughter wa s
felt pressured to. Anyone who has their lunch period and that students in 6th grade, she began learning
played a sport in high school can were welcome to come, wouldn’t about human sexuality in health
tell you that coaches wield a lot of many of them feel pressured to join? class. It started out the way that you

She wanted to make sure that her students were
getting a “proper education,” so she decided to
base all of her classes on the Bible.
would expect any health class in the After all, kids who don’t believe
South to go—lots of abstinence-only in God are lost because they lack
education. It wasn’t until March morals. Her students needed
that my stepdaughter came home someone to guide them to the right
and asked us to listen to a record- path, and she was the person to do
ing she made of her teacher. That it. Otherwise, they might end up
record ing held making horrible,
some of the most life-altering “deci-
shocking prosely- The recording sions”—like being
tizing I have ever continued as the LGBTQ. “Whatever
heard. way [people] want
The hea lt h teacher lamented to dress, whatever
teacher began by
asking her students
that she couldn’t way they want to
act, if they want
what t he Bible force her students to be a boy or girl,
said about sex:
“If you look at the
to believe in God. that’s their choice
… I’m just saying
Bible, it says sex that I don’t believe
isn’t for love. It’s for … what?” She in that nonsense.” Not to fear,
waited for a moment, until a student though. “If you’re brought up with
responded, “Marriage!” That was morals and values, then God’s going
the answer she was looking for. to be there to help you make better
She emphasized that any sexual decisions.” As a bi, atheist parent, it
contact outside of marriage was was enraging to hear what my step-
completely inappropriate, despite kid was being forced to listen to.
what their parents may tell them. In After the recording ended, the
fact, students should be wary about first thing my husband and I did
accepting their parents’ beliefs was contact the Freedom From
because some of those beliefs were Religion Foundation (FFRF). We
downright disgusting. She wanted had issues in this school before
to make sure that her students were and knew that reporting the inci-
getting a “proper education,” so she dent to the administrators would
decided to base all of her classes on result in it being swept under the
the Bible. She just had to be care- rug. FFRF’s attorney sent a letter to Rose Morgan is a second-year law
ful and “squeeze it in so that [she the school district recommending student in New York City. She joined
didn’t] get into too much trouble.” that the health teacher be removed American Atheists as a law clerk
from January to August 2022. She has
The recording continued as the due to her “inability to follow the been involved in the online atheist
teacher lamented that she couldn’t law despite being aware her behav- community for several years.
force her students to believe in God. ior violated it.”

That night, a friend sent us a screenshot
of a conversation where people in our town
were planning to burn our house
down—with us in it.
A week passed with no response, of times. would honk at the house every 15
so my husband and I went public I quickly arranged a stay with minutes to remind us that we were
about what took place in our small my family in Nebraska for a week, being watched. When one of our
West Virginia town. Luckily, we hoping everything would cool apartment applications was finally
were able to draw a large amount of down. We packed our suitcases accepted, we loaded up everything
attention to what my stepdaughter and left before the sun came up. we could carry in our SUV and fled.
was forced to endure. My husband, My husband and I switched off Now that Christian nationalists
who runs several YouTube chan- driving for the have been embold-
nels devoted to atheist and political 14-hour trip while When one of ened by t hei r
commentary, published the record- monitoring how Supreme Cour t
ing online. Our lives were turned the situation was
our apartment win in Kennedy
upside down the day after this video spiraling. In that applications was v. Bremerton, I’m
was posted. time, a Facebook worried about how
My stepdaughter texted us the page supporting finally accepted, many other fami-
moment she arrived at school. the health teacher we loaded up lies might have
The video had spread like wild- was created and to go through the
fire, and her peers transformed two-thirds of the everything we same nightmare
into an angry mob. She couldn’t town had joined. could carry in our we did. Absolutely
enter a single classroom without People were nothing we expe-
being harassed. We pulled her out p o s t i n g a b ou t SUV and fled. rienced was legal,
of school after we received reports k idnapping my but, in that very
that kids from the local high school stepdaughter and killing us. One religious community, no one tried
were planning to attack her. of the other teachers at the middle to stop it. The health teacher was
We kept my stepdaughter home school released our address. We never fired and still remains teach-
the next day when we saw an online were no longer safe at home. ing at my stepdaughter’s old middle
petition targeting her. Our neigh- Af ter that, we traveled to school. No charges were ever filed
bors protested at her bus stop once Connecticut so that my stepdaugh- against the people who threatened
rumors circulated that the health ter could stay there long term while us. My stepdaughter was forced to
teacher had been fired. We had to my husband and I returned home finish the school year through a
change my stepdaughter’s phone to organize our relocation. The virtual program.
number when her classmates next month was spent applying But there is hope. Students in
leaked it. That night, a friend sent for apartments in New York City, that school district have started
us a screenshot of a conversation where I had just been accepted to speaking out about the religious
where people in our town were law school. We couldn’t leave the indoctrination they’ve experi-
planning to burn our house down— house without being followed. enced. If we all speak up and show
with us in it. We reported this to Our curtains remained closed so extremists that they cannot force
the police and were told that there that we wouldn’t have to see the their religion onto others, then no
wasn’t much they could do, other people waiting for us outside. This one else has to suffer the way my
than drive past the house a couple only helped a little because they family did. 🅐

PUBLIC POLICY
Adopted and Foster Kids Pay the Price

American Atheists and the American Humanist Association came together for a
joint lobby day in support of the John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act.
T
his summer, nearly
100 at heists and
hu ma n i s t s f rom
24 s t ates a nd
Wa sh i ng ton, DC
met with 86 congres-
sional offices to advocate for the
John Lewis Every Child Deserves a
Family Act (ECDF). The ECDF would
prohibit discrimination against
prospective adoptive and foster
families—and children receiving
foster services—on the basis of sex,
sexual orientation, gender iden-
tity, or religious identity, including more likely to adopt or foster chil- Unfortunately, because the
atheism. dren than non-LGBTQ families. ECDF is not yet law, some states
This law is urgently needed at the Turning away qualified parents and are catering to religious extrem
federal level. While most states have guardians because of sexual orien- ists and going even further than
non-discrimination laws already in tation, gender identity, or a different the Supreme Court did in Fulton.
place, far too many do not. And the belief system reduces the number In Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey
existing laws are at risk in the wake of available placements fo r chil- signed a bill that would shield reli
of the Supreme Court’s 2021 deci- dren and leaves these young people gious foster and adoption agencies
sion in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, in a broken system. An estimated from anti-discrimination lawsuits.
which allows Catholic Social 25,000 young people age out of the In Tennessee and South Carolina,
Services to continue discriminating system every year without finding a Jewish couple was rejected from
against LGBTQ couples when certi- their forever home. foster parent training required to
fying foster families. The ECDF not only protects adopt, and a Catholic woman was
“For me, this is personal,” said potential parents—it protects kids. told she couldn’t be a foster parent
Nick Fish, president of American LGBTQ youth are overrepresented because she isn’t an Evangelical
Atheists. “When my parents adopted among children in the foster care Christian. The law also estab-
me, they weren’t asked what religion system, and more young people lishes a “right” for foster parents
they believed or which church they are identifying as nonreligious or to impose their religious beliefs
attended. All that mattered was that with minority religions. The ECDF on foster children temporarily in
they loved me and put my interests would protect those most vulnera- their care, ignoring the rights and
first.” ble to discrimination and coercion, beliefs of these young people and
Relying on religiously affiliated banning “conversion therapy” and, their biological parents.
service providers that discriminate for the first time, forced religious American Atheists will continue
comes at a cost. More than 400,000 conversion by agencies receiving to advocate for state-level legislation
children and young people are in tax dollars. This common-sense to improve the foster and adoption
our nation’s foster care system, and rule would ensure that young system while working to pass the
120,000 are awaiting placement people are able to make decisions ECDF to establish a baseline nation-
with permanent families. LGBTQ about their own religious beliefs wide. 🅐
adults are approximately four times without fear of coercion.

RECENT RESEARCH NONRELIGION AND SECULARITY RESEARCH NETWORK
Who Actually Loves Their Neighbors—

Christians or Atheists?
by David Speed, PhD
I
n the Book of Matthew, Jesus is asked behaviors, as well as tons of other ques-
which is the most important of the tions related to social attitudes. In the 2018
laws. Jesus gives it GSS, they included a set of
some thought and questions about attitudes
argues that the This study is towards religious groups,
commandments “How do you feel about
are built on two precepts: 1) important because atheists?”, “How do you
love the Christian god and it can be used as a feel about Christians?”,
2) love each other. While I “How do you feel about
have my reservations for yardstick to figure Muslims?”, etc. These ques-
50% of this list (I won’t ruin out how much further tions were coded so that
the surprise and tell you higher scores meant that
which one I disagree with), atheists must go in individuals felt more posi-
I find this passage fasci- society to be accepted. tively towards members of
nating. The phrase, “Love those groups. It is import-
your neighbor _______” is ant to emphasize that the
something that virtually any self-identify- question is not asking “How do you feel about
ing Christian could correctly complete. The atheism, Christianity, Islam, etc.?”, but how
language of that specific verse is steeped in you feel about members of those groups.
the collective consciousness of American If you ask all sampled Americans how they
Christians. But has the intent of that message feel towards members of specific religious
been similarly absorbed? groups, you get a result that looks like Figure
The National Opinion Research Center at 1. As you can see, atheists are the lowest
the University of Chicago collects represen- rated, while Christians are the most highly
tative data on Americans every two years in rated. Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims
the form of the General Social Survey (GSS). are in the middle between those extremes.
The GSS is terrific because it always includes But this graph is somewhat uninformative
a lot of questions about religious beliefs and because it is a simple average of everyone’s

Religious equality in America will be hard
to achieve and sustain if more than half of
Americans tend to view atheists negatively.
attitudes. Because of this, we did Jews were distantly next, followed as themselves, while Christians
something a little tricky with the by Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims seem somewhat more reluctant to
data: we filtered people based on more tightly clustered together. do so. Granted, this doesn’t mean
what they believe and how they Bringing up the rear were athe- that all Christians rated atheists
affiliated with religion. About 15% ists—who were rated below the negatively or that all atheists rated
of the 2018 GSS were atheists (mean- neutral point of the scale! Now Christians positively, but it does
ing 1 in 6 Americans are nonbeliev- there is some research suggesting suggest that your average atheist is
ers!), so we could be reasonably that Christians may feel a reactive more fond of their Christian neigh-
confident that we had decent esti- animosity towards atheists: basi- bor than vice versa.
mates of nonbelievers’ attitudes. cally, the godless go around picking Granted, our work is not with-
We were really interested in what fights and are generally curmud- out flaws: better assessments of
would happen in models where we geons. There are people who may attitudes, better categorizations of
only retained theists who self-iden- argue that Christians are justified religion, larger sample sizes, etc.
tified as Christian, and what would for disliking nonbelievers because would each improve our study. Like
happen in models where we only atheists behave in an unlikeable all published research, our study is
retained atheists who were reli- manner. If this is true, we would undoubtedly wrong to some extent,
giously unaff iliated. Weirdly expect atheists to be foaming at the but it is still useful. It is the begin-
enough, this had never really been mouth with rabid dislike for people ning of a conversation about this
studied before! who are religious. But that’s not the topic and not the final word. This
Now, if Christians as a group case! study is important because it can
accepted the commandment to As you can see in Figure 3, the be used as a yardstick to figure out
“Love your neighbor as yourself,” expected “religion hate train” either how much further atheists must go
we would expect that Christians failed to leave the station or derailed in society to be accepted. Critically,
would have as positive a view- shortly after departure. Atheists religious equality in America will
point towards members of other rated themselves somewhat posi- be hard to achieve and sustain if
belief systems as they would have tively, but also rated Christians, more than half of Americans tend to
towards other Christians. As you Buddhists, Hindus, and Jews quite view atheists negatively. It is worth
can see in Figure 2, this did not similarly. The only disruption to noting that together Christians and
happen! Christians rated other this trend were Muslims who were atheists are inadvertently fulfilling
Christians very positively, while rated slightly lower than how athe- Jesus’s top picks for the command-
ists rated themselves. ments: Christians are loving their
Whether this reflects God, while atheists are loving their
Islamophobia (which neighbors. 🅐
is something the athe-
ist movement has Full study: Speed, D. and Brewster, M., 2021.
Love thy Neighbour… or not: Christians, but
been accused of) or
not Atheists, Show High In-Group Favoritism.
is simply a statistical Secularism and Nonreligion, 10(1), p.7. DOI:
anomaly is unclear. http://doi.org/10.5334/snr.136
The basic finding
though is apparent: David Speed, PhD is a Social
Psychologist and Associate Professor
ironically, atheists at University of New Brunswick in
“love their neighbor” Saint John.

American Atheists in Action
American Atheists members and affiliated local groups took a stand for equality by participating in Pride events
around the country, defending who they are and what they believe.
❶ ❷
❸ ❹

Atheists in Action
❻ ➐
❾ ❿
1. Central Florida Freethought Community had a great turnout for the Orlando Pride Festival. 2. Aiden
Barnes (center), President of Washington Area Secular Humanists and our Virginia Assistant State Director,
gets into the “spirit” of the event at Portsmouth Pride. 3. Nebraska State Director Rachele Walter tables
for Lincoln Atheists at the city’s Pride celebration. 4. Christopher Polito of DC Atheists, Humanists and
Agnostics, Rogiérs of Black Nonbelievers of DC, our Litigation Counsel Geoffrey Blackwell, and Washington
Area Secular Humanists member Brie Ball table in DC at Capital Pride. 5. American Humanist Association
Executive Director Nadya Dutchin, our VP for Legal and Policy Alison Gill, and our National Field Director
Sam McGuire table in DC at Capital Pride. 6. Oklahoma Atheists members march with their Flying Spaghetti
Monster float in the Pride parade. 7. Delaware State Director Chuck Dyke (right) represents his community
at the Delaware Pride Festival. 8. Colorado Assistant State Director Jannan Abbott and Boulder Atheists
member John represent atheists at Boulder Pride. 9. Houston Assistant State Director Kelly Rhodes and
Texas State Director Wil Jeudy table at Pride Houston. 10. Members of Columbia Atheists join our Missouri
State Director David Rosman (right) at Columbia Pridefest. 11. Washington Area Secular Humanists member
Heatherly Hodges participates in Frederick Pride in Maryland.

WHY I AM AN ATHEIST
My Journey to Atheism and Black Nonbelievers
“
T
he most But while religion did not play
encouraging an active role in my daily life, I was
mome nt of exposed to Christianity, primar-
the [American ily through my singing teacher,
Atheists 2018 and to Islam, through the many
Convent ion] cultural events that my family and
comes when I introduce myself to I attended. Performing as a soloist
Mandisa Thomas, President and in churches across the NYC area, I
founder of Black Nonbelievers, an often sat through the services and
organization dedicated to support thought, “If this god was so benev-
Mandisa Thomas
Atlanta, GA
and visibility for black atheists,” olent, how could the brutal enslave-
wrote a Playboy reporter in the July/ ment of my African ancestors be
August 2018 issue. allowed and justified? How could
It’s fun to say, “Hey, I was in the subsequent mistreatment also
Playboy!” But this isn’t where my be allowed and justified?”
journey to atheism begins—and The first time I was introduced
certainly not where it ends! to the word “atheist” was in high
I consider myself to have grown school, at age 14. Because of my
up with a certain level of privilege— outspoken nature, one of my class-
but not the economic or higher mates asked if I was an atheist. In
educated k ind. turn, I asked what
Hailing from New If this god was so that meant.
York Cit y, and “It means that
raised in the South benevolent, how you don’t believe
Jamaica Houses could the brutal in heaven or hell.”
(aka 40 Projects) The more I thought
in the borough of enslavement of my about it, the more
Queens, I am that African ancestors I agreed. Because
statistical, disad- even back then,
vantaged Black kid be allowed and I never accepted
that many in elite justified? those ideas with-
circles and beyond out ev idence.
speak of. I am, however, a gradu- And throughout the years, I have
Mandisa Thomas, a native
of New York City, is the
ate of the prestigious LaGuardia encountered many other Black folks
founder and President of High School of Music & Art and who’ve had those same doubts but
Black Nonbelievers, Inc. Performing Arts in Manhattan. And were too afraid to express them
Mandisa is the recipient of
multiple awards and has many
through the lens of “Afrocentricity” openly.
media appearances to her that was instilled early in life, I was Black communities are often
credit. She currently serves educated on the rich legacy of activ- associated with high levels of reli-
on the Boards for American
Atheists and the American ism, creativity, intellect, and resil- giosity. While the overall number
Humanist Association. ience that is the Black community. of religious “nones” is rising in the

United States, approximately 79% who are male, and moreover, white. Me and many of my
of the Black population still place By atheists from ALL ethnic back-
belief at the center of their lives. grounds and gender identities. Me fellow Black secular
This highly religious influence, the and many of my fellow Black secu- colleagues must
history of which can be applauded lar colleagues must work twice as
in many ways, has also obscured, hard to receive less than half the work twice as hard to
and even excluded, a history of support needed. It can be daunting, receive less than half
atheism and humanism in Black and there were many times that I
communities. wondered if all of this is worth fight- the support needed.
In addition, the Black Nonreligious ing for.
Americans report, released jointly by But whenever I feel despair, I Religious Liberty, the Freedom
Black Nonbelievers and American remember what Black Nonbelievers Forum Institute, and the Interfaith
Atheists in October of 2021, reveals has accomplished. In just 11 short Youth Core, we have developed a
higher rates of concealment and years, there are more Black athe- major working relationship with the
depression, and highlights the ists, humanists, and religion doubt- Smithsonian’s National Museum for
stigma faced in our communities. ers who know they are not alone. We African American Culture. Black
Therefore, support for Black athe- have elevated our presence and our Nonbelievers has been featured
ists, humanists, agnostics, and reli- voices in the public sphere. We have in their “gOD-Talk” series, and
gion doubters is needed. helped people who lost friends and members will also be featured in
Fou nde d i n 2011, Bl ac k family to find new ones after leav- an upcoming documentary on
Nonbelievers is now the most recog- ing religion and the concept of god the oral history of Black religious
nized Black secular organization in behind. perspectives. We’ve also donated
the United States, and perhaps the Our work has resulted in major materials to the museum for their
world. Our mission is to provide media features including CNN, research and archives, which is
fellowship and refuge for Blacks CBS Sunday Morning, and the “Five sure to reshape the historical narra-
who leave religion; nurture and Fierce Humanists” cover story in tive, and prominently represent the
support nonbelievers in “coming The Humanist magazine in 2018; nonreligious demographic in Black
out” (i.e., open identification); our very first billboard campaign in communities.
encourage pride in nonreligious 2020; the Zora Neale Hurston schol- This is liberation work, and
identities; educate the public on the arship for Black college students we are changing lives. And I have
history and current state of nonbe- (in collaboration with the Secular dedicated my life to the advocacy,
lief in Black communities; advocate Student Alliance); and the Women representation and support for
for the rights of Black secularists; of Color Beyond Belief conference, Black atheists, humanists, free-
and organize events for charitable co-produced with Black Skeptics thinkers, and religion doubters, as
causes. Los Angeles and the Women’s well as being an ambassador for the
It is not easy cultivating commu- Leadership Project. broader secular community. The
nity, especially from the ground up. We are making modern-day Black privilege of being raised as a nonbe-
I have endured many instances of History. In addition to being part of liever has been a huge asset to not
being undermined because I am interfaith dialogues with organi- only my atheist identity, but also my
a Black woman, and seeing more zations like the Auburn Seminary, commitment to helping others. That
value placed on the work of those the Baptist Joint Committee for has been well worth the journey. 🅐

In this issue, we’re trying out a new feature: staff-endorsed books, movies,
podcasts, or other media with brief reviews. We’re excited to provide more
STAFF PICKS personalized recommendations for our readers. Enjoy!
Anthony Crincoli Alyssa Fuller

Program Manager Membership Manager
Histories of the Transgender Everything Everywhere
Child (book, 2018) All At Once (film, 2022)
Histories of the Transgender I’ve always loved Michelle
Child is a necessary corrective Yeoh, and she stars as an
to popular media narratives exhausted, irritable busi-
about transgender children in ness owner who is given a
America. Jules Gill-Peterson second chance: access to
takes a critical look at the the multiverse, including
archival record from the first skills and abilities her
half of the 1900s in order to more successful selves have
challenge the notion that gained. What follows is a
transgender children are a messy, madcap, martial-
recent, largely white medical arts adventure. Everyone
invention. Gill-Peterson’s involved gives a stellar
findings require us to reject appeals to medical and performance, switching from drama to comedy to action
parental authority, along with the conception of children with ease. It is a remarkable movie, but also remarkable
as partial people that animates them. In order to advocate for its unabashed atheism. The story takes place in a world
for transgender children in our current political moment, with no use for a god or gods, and despite the messianic
we must instead embrace them as a desirable and already main character trope, pulls it all off without offending
existing feature of our world. mainstream critics. A gem!
Sam McGuire Martina Fern

National Field Director Senior Director of Development
Burnout: The Secret to Please Do Not Ask for
Unlocking the Stress Cycle Mercy as a Refusal Often
(book, 2020) Offends (book, 2020)
Eli Dadabhoy spoke about Maybe you haven’t thou-
this book from the Skepticon ght of dystopian satire
stage in July, and I immediate- as your favorite genre; I
ly downloaded it to my Kindle certainly hadn’t. Then
based on their recommenda- again, British author Paul
tion. I was on the schedule to Bassett Davies plays fast
facilitate a workshop on activist and loose with genres in
burnout the very next day, so this book anyway. And with
I was curious what advice the structure. And maybe with
authors had to give. I was only some readers’ expectations
able to quickly skim the book of steamy love scenes.
that night but went back and Buckle up as Detective
read the whole thing on the plane—I HATE self-help type Kilroy tries to solve a horrible murder. Anything else I
books. The authors are able to blend the science of the stress could tell you would spoil the fun. Clearly the most
cycle, tips for dealing with burnout and an explanation of original book I have read in a while, and for us atheists,
why women experience stress differently than men with there’s a storyline that I know will make you smile. Critics
great storytelling and humor. My favorite part was the tl;dr have bemoaned the abrupt ending, but where’s the fun in a
at the end of each chapter. Great for a quick refresher on neatly wrapped up conclusion?
what was discussed on each topic after finishing the book.

Join Us in Phoenix for the
2023 National Convention
Mark your calendar for the 2023 National Convention in Arizona
at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix, April 6-9.
We look forward to seeing you there for a weekend of community,
activism, and fun in the Valley of the Sun.
Tickets and more details will be available soon!
A C R O S S T H E C O U N T RY,
230+ LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
A RE AFFILIATED WIT H AM E R IC AN AT HE IST S
Find
Find a
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group near
near you
you at
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at e
ess
What Will Your
Legacy Be?
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making a real difference right now in our fight to
protect the absolute separation of religion from
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Martina Fern at 908-666-6574.
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AMERICAN ATHEIST

A JOURNAL OF ATHEIST NEWS AND THOUGHT

Abortion Activism: Christian Extremists Christian Nationalist

We’ve led the fight for absolute separation of religion from

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4 President’s Letter: Our Most Powerful

7 Nonreligious LGBTQ People in America

14 Atheists Victorious Against Christian

23 Adopted and Foster Kids Pay the Price

24 Who Actually Loves Their Neighbors—

26 American Atheists in Action

28 Why I Am an Atheist: Mandisa Thomas

American Atheist is published quarterly by American

Our Most Powerful Tool, But Not the Only One

4 | AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org THIRD QUARTER 2022

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Our Debt to Past Liberation

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photo: Philip Yabut / Shutterstock.com

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As we’ve seen, suggestions. The groundwork for

some of the or defender. Anti-choice activists

18 | AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org THIRD QUARTER 2022

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20 | AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org THIRD QUARTER 2022

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22 | AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org THIRD QUARTER 2022

Adopted and Foster Kids Pay the Price

THIRD QUARTER 2022 AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org | 23

Who Actually Loves Their Neighbors—

24 | AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org THIRD QUARTER 2022

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26 | AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org THIRD QUARTER 2022

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My Journey to Atheism and Black Nonbelievers

28 | AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org THIRD QUARTER 2022

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Anthony Crincoli Alyssa Fuller

Sam McGuire Martina Fern

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Tickets and more details will be available soon!

For more information, visit

Support American Atheists When You Shop

Simply enroll at smile.amazon.com, choose American Atheists as your designated

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