All posts tagged: representation

Navigating Secular Spaces as a Puerto Rican, Black Atheist: Why Representation Matters

Navigating Secular Spaces as a Puerto Rican, Black Atheist: Why Representation Matters

Published by skeptic

As a Puerto Rican, Black, and atheist student, navigating secular spaces has often felt like stepping into uncharted territory. For many communities of color, religion is more than just a belief system—it is a cornerstone of identity, culture, and resilience in the face of historical oppression. In these contexts, questioning or rejecting religious beliefs can feel like questioning your community, your heritage, or even your own worth. I may be what some consider a “new atheist,” having only begun identifying as such in January 2023. And yet, one of the most terrifying things I have ever done was coming out as an atheist to my mother on January 1, 2025. I know this because, instead of telling her in person, I recorded a video of myself doing it. Ironically, I was more afraid of coming out as an atheist than I had been of coming out as gay—an announcement I actually made face-to-face. Thankfully, my mother took the news well, and our relationship remains strong. Now, some might think this reaction is overblown. “Is not …

Representation Matters: Councilmember Randy Bruce

Representation Matters: Councilmember Randy Bruce

Published by skeptic

This is part of The Humanist’s monthly series highlighting openly nonreligious elected officials across the nation. Because of the work of the Center for Freethought Equality, the political and advocacy arm of the American Humanist Association, there are over 120 elected officials at the local, state, and federal level who identify with the atheist and humanist community serving in thirty-three states across the country. Join the Center for Freethought Equality to help politically empower the atheist and humanist community—membership is FREE! The Center for Freethought Equality’s advances have been groundbreaking. Prior to the 2016 election, there were only five state legislators and no members of Congress who publicly identified with our community; because of its efforts, today we have seventy-seven state legislators and a member of Congress, Jared Huffman (CA-2), who publicly identify with our community. It is critical that our community connect and engage with the elected officials who represent our community and our values—you can see a list of these elected officials here. Councilmember Randy Bruce Representing Farmington Hills, Michigan  “We need to take care of …

New Year, New Secular Representation in Congress

New Year, New Secular Representation in Congress

Published by skeptic

The American Humanist Association (AHA) and Center for Freethought Equality (CFE) staff met with new and returning Members of Congress on the very first day of the 119th Congress session to begin establishing important relationships and putting a face to the powerful secular constituency. Although Congress continues to be more religious than the country as a whole—CQ Roll Call survey reported that 95 percent of Senate and House members identify with a religious faith, while a Pew Research Center survey found 70% of Americans affiliate with a religious faith—there is a growing cohort of nonreligious members. For Democrats, incoming Arizona Representative Yassamin Ansari identified as “agnostic,” incoming Washington Representative Emily Randall identified as “none” (she will also be the first openly queer Latina in Congress), and California Representative Jared Huffman continues to identify as a “humanist.” Ohio’s Dave Taylor is the one Republican who did not specify a religious affiliation. CQ Roll Call stated that, “another 21 Democrats did not specify a religious affiliation.” Hemant Mehta recognized CFE Political Manager Ron Millar for encouraging Ansari …

119th Congress Gains Much-Needed Nonreligious Representation with Rep. Yassamin Ansari

119th Congress Gains Much-Needed Nonreligious Representation with Rep. Yassamin Ansari

Published by skeptic

Yassamin Ansari’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives for Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District marks a significant milestone for the representation of secular individuals and the principle of separation between church and state. As an openly agnostic individual, Ansari joins a small but growing cohort of non-religious lawmakers reflecting the increasing diversity of non-religious beliefs among Americans. The religious composition of the 119th Congress remains predominantly Christian, with approximately 87% identifying as such according to Pew Research Center, despite nearly 28% of Americans identifying as religiously unaffiliated, which includes humanists, atheists, agnostics, or those with no particular religious affiliation. Ansari’s presence in Congress helps bridge this representational gap, offering a voice to millions of secular Americans whose perspectives have historically been underrepresented in the federal legislature. Ansari’s agnosticism is deeply rooted in her family history, with her grandparents fleeing Iran after the revolution of 1979. She says her family generally left religious practice behind in the trauma. “I actually consider myself agnostic… I respect everyone’s faith, but I do not personally practice one,” she is …

Representation Matters: Councilmember Marissa Postler

Representation Matters: Councilmember Marissa Postler

Published by skeptic

This is part of The Humanist’s monthly series highlighting openly nonreligious elected officials across the nation. Because of the work of the Center for Freethought Equality, the political and advocacy arm of the American Humanist Association, there are over 120 elected officials at the local, state, and federal level who identify with the atheist and humanist community serving in thirty-three states across the country. Join the Center for Freethought Equality to help politically empower the atheist and humanist community—membership is FREE! The Center for Freethought Equality’s advances have been groundbreaking. Prior to the 2016 election, there were only five state legislators and no members of Congress who publicly identified with our community; because of its efforts, today we have seventy-seven state legislators and a member of Congress, Jared Huffman (CA-2), who publicly identify with our community. It is critical that our community connect and engage with the elected officials who represent our community and our values—you can see a list of these elected officials here. Councilmember Marissa Postler Representing Wyoming, Michigan “I was pressured to attend an event …

REPRESENTATION MATTERS | Kansas State Representative Heather Meyer

REPRESENTATION MATTERS | Kansas State Representative Heather Meyer

Published by skeptic

This is part of The Humanist’s monthly series highlighting openly nonreligious elected officials across the nation. Because of the work of the Center for Freethought Equality, the political and advocacy arm of the American Humanist Association, there are over 120 elected officials at the local, state, and federal level who identify with the atheist and humanist community serving in thirty-four states across the country. Join the Center for Freethought Equality to help politically empower the atheist and humanist community—membership is FREE! The Center for Freethought Equality’s advances have been groundbreaking. Prior to the 2016 election, there were only five state legislators and no members of Congress who publicly identified with our community; because of its efforts, today we have seventy-three state legislators and a member of Congress, Jared Huffman (CA-2), who publicly identify with our community. It is critical that our community connect and engage with the elected officials who represent our community and our values—you can see a list of these elected officials here. Kansas State Representative Heather Meyer Representing Kansas’ 29th district “My values are rooted …

REPRESENTATION MATTERS | Kansas State Representative Heather Meyer

Representation Matters: Kansas State Representative Heather Meyer

Published by skeptic

This is part of The Humanist’s monthly series highlighting openly nonreligious elected officials across the nation. Because of the work of the Center for Freethought Equality, the political and advocacy arm of the American Humanist Association, there are over 120 elected officials at the local, state, and federal level who identify with the atheist and humanist community serving in thirty-four states across the country. Join the Center for Freethought Equality to help politically empower the atheist and humanist community—membership is FREE! The Center for Freethought Equality’s advances have been groundbreaking. Prior to the 2016 election, there were only five state legislators and no members of Congress who publicly identified with our community; because of its efforts, today we have seventy-three state legislators and a member of Congress, Jared Huffman (CA-2), who publicly identify with our community. It is critical that our community connect and engage with the elected officials who represent our community and our values—you can see a list of these elected officials here. Kansas State Representative Heather Meyer Representing Kansas’ 29th district “My values are rooted …

Representation Matters: School Board Member Clayton Moore

Representation Matters: School Board Member Clayton Moore

Published by skeptic

This is part of The Humanist’s monthly series highlighting openly nonreligious elected officials across the nation. Because of the work of the Center for Freethought Equality, the political and advocacy arm of the American Humanist Association, there are over 120 elected officials at the local, state, and federal level who identify with the atheist and humanist community serving in thirty-four states across the country. Join the Center for Freethought Equality to help politically empower the atheist and humanist community—membership is FREE! The Center for Freethought Equality’s advances have been groundbreaking. Prior to the 2016 election, there were only five state legislators and no members of Congress who publicly identified with our community; because of its efforts, today we have seventy-three state legislators and a member of Congress, Jared Huffman (CA-2), who publicly identify with our community. It is critical that our community connect and engage with the elected officials who represent our community and our values—you can see a list of these elected officials here. School Board Member Clayton Moore Representing California’s Victor Elementary School District “Our ‘North …

Representation Matters: State Representative Elinor Levin

Representation Matters: State Representative Elinor Levin

Published by Sam

This is part of The Humanist’s monthly series highlighting openly nonreligious elected officials across the nation. Because of the work of the Center for Freethought Equality, the political and advocacy arm of the American Humanist Association, there are over 120 elected officials at the local, state, and federal level who identify with the atheist and humanist community serving in 34 states across the country. Join the Center for Freethought Equality to help politically empower the atheist and humanist community—membership is FREE! The Center for Freethought Equality’s advances have been groundbreaking. Prior to the 2016 election, there were only five state legislators and no members of Congress who publicly identified with our community; because of its efforts, today we have seventy-three state legislators and a member of Congress, Jared Huffman (CA-2), who publicly identify with our community. It is critical that our community connect and engage with the elected officials who represent our community and our values—you can see a list of these elected officials here. State Representative Elinor Levin Representing Iowa’s 89th District “Although I know that a …

An anti-Hindutva teach-in spurs debate about Hindu representation on college campuses

An anti-Hindutva teach-in spurs debate about Hindu representation on college campuses

Published by Sam

Pranay Somayajula, on screen, remotely addresses attendees during the “Holi against Hindutva” teach-in event at Oberlin College, Sunday, April 21, 2024, in Oberlin, Ohio. (Photo by Sayanth Shajith) (RNS) — On Sunday (April 21), a group of about 40 students gathered at Oberlin College, near Cleveland, for a student-led event called “Holi against Hindutva:” a teach-in aimed at discussing Hindu nationalism’s “violent implications for Muslims worldwide and connections to Zionism.” An initiative of this sort is not uncommon on college campuses, especially those, like Oberlin, with a historical orientation toward social justice. But this event, organized by Oberlin’s Asian American Alliance and Muslim Students Association, spurred controversy far beyond campus. The day of the event, demonstrators appeared at Oberlin to protest, holding signs reading “Protect Indigenous Traditions,” “Preserve Holi, Reject Hinduphobia” and “Stop Spreading Hatred Against the Hindu Community!”  The protesters, according to Rakesh Ranjan, president of the Cleveland chapter of Coalition of Hindus of North America, which led the protest, were objecting to the use of Holi, a holiday that celebrates spring and promotes …