Again and again and again, voters have rejected school vouchers and other privatization schemes that attempt to defund and dismantle the nonsectarian public schools that 90% of U.S. families choose. The mandate from the American people to their state and federal lawmakers is clear: Support public schools. Earlier today, the Trump Administration issued yet another executive order that directly contradicts the will of the people. They justify their wholly unpopular position on school privat...| American Atheists
Cranford, NJ—American Atheists is proud to stand alongside national civil rights organizations and secular advocacy groups today—and everyday—in reaffirming our commitment to vigorously oppose attacks against LGBTQ+ Americans. We unequivocally believe public policy should be based on facts, not faith. For example, when we conducted the largest secular survey ever of over 34,000 nonreligious Americans, 82% of respondents identified protecting LGBTQ equality as an issue organizations like...| American Atheists
Earlier today, an article was published on The Friendly Atheist regarding an ongoing lawsuit filed in an Arizona court by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). The case concerns a significant trust in Arizona that was distributed in 2022 and 2023 among FFRF, American Atheists, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and the donor’s brother in accordance with the donor’s stated wishes. American Atheists first learned the shared bequest was being contested in March 2024, when the o...| American Atheists
American Atheists warns Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling undermines public education, pluralism| American Atheists
WASHINGTON, DC – American Atheists, a national civil rights organization, condemns today’s Supreme Court decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, agreeing with Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s stark dissent that this decision “threatens the very essence of public education.” The case was brought by a group of Maryland parents who claimed their children should be permitted to “opt out” of reading storybooks featuring LGBTQ+ characters. The plaintiffs claimed these books violated their religious b...| American Atheists
American Atheists, in close coordination with Humanists International and Humanist Canada, announces the 2026 World Humanist Congress will no longer be held in Washington, D.C., but will instead take place in Ottawa, Canada, August 7-9, 2026. The decision to relocate comes after a thorough assessment of the social, political, and economic environment in the United States under the current administration. Escalating religious nationalism and executive actions restricting movement, targeting ci...| American Atheists
Washington, D.C. — In a deeply troubling 6–3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Even as transgender Americans face widespread discrimination, stigma, and violence, the Court refused to treat anti-trans laws with heightened constitutional suspicion. American Atheists, a national civil rights organization, says the Court’s ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti is a dangerous assault on equal protection, personal autonomy, a...| American Atheists
Washington, D.C. – In March, American Atheists filed an amicus brief in Catholic Charities v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm that employees should not be denied critical government benefits, including unemployment insurance, simply because their employer is religious. In its brief, the national civil rights organization said the Establishment Clause firmly – and rightfully – prohibits the government from using its taxation power...| American Atheists
Today, in a divided decision and with one recusal, the Supreme Court of the United States ultimately upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling that public funding for religious schools is unconstitutional. American Atheists filed an amicus brief last month urging the Court to recognize a taxpayer-funded religious school would be antithetical to our nation’s history and traditions. The brief was joined by the American Humanist Association, Secular Student Alliance, Secular Coalition f...| American Atheists
This week, American Atheists filed amicus briefs in two key cases before the U.S. Supreme Court urging the Court to uphold longstanding precedent to protect secular public schools in the United States.| American Atheists
American Atheists is proud to work alongside a diverse coalition of local, state, and national partners on legislation and litigation that protects civil rights, advances political equality, and achieves social inclusion for atheists and other nonreligious people. Our members trust us to be transparent; they expect us to be authentic; and they count on us to build strong, vibrant, and resilient communities. They understand, as we do, that we are strongest when we stand together, guided by our...| American Atheists
Washington, D.C. — American Atheists, a national civil rights organization, filed an amicus brief today in Catholic Charities v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in this case could determine, for the first time, whether nonprofit organizations doing charity work motivated by religious belief must be exempted from paying unemployment taxes. In Wisconsin, the state labor commission denied an application for exemption submitted by Catholic Cha...| American Atheists
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]Oklahoma City – American Atheists offers its condolences to Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, whose desperate bid for Education Secretary was foiled by a disgraced wrestling tycoon with one year’s experience in public school leadership. We also express our deepest sympathies to the people of Oklahoma, who must continue to endure the State Superintendent. We further suggest Mr. Walters retain any receipts related to his department...| American Atheists
COLORADO — The Patients’ Right To Know Act, the nation’s first comprehensive health care transparency law, goes into full effect today, October 1. The law will considerably improve the ability of Coloradans to make informed decisions about their health care by requiring hospitals to inform patients if they deny services for non-medical reasons. American Atheists has been a strong advocate for this legislation from conception to implementation. Sponsored by Colorado State Representati...| American Atheists
Washington, DC—As part of its continued assault on LGBTQ people and women under the guise of “religious freedom,” the Trump administration has announced the creation of a new “Conscience and Religious Freedom Division” within the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights. The new division would be charged with shielding medical professionals who refuse to treat patients because of religious objections. In addition, HHS is expected to announce a proposed rule...| American Atheists
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights announced the release of its new Denial of Care rule, Safeguarding the Rights of Conscience as Protected by Federal Statutes. President of American Atheists, Nick Fish, said, “The Department of Health and Human Services has taken a step in the right direction this week. The religious refusal rule the Biden Administration inherited had nothing to do with religious freedom and everythin...| American Atheists