Reproductive Rights News In a refreshing change from the abortion restrictions imposed elsewhere in the country, the Hawaiian Senate wants to do something different. Hawaii’s senate has just passed SB 526, which mandates that hospitals provide unbiased information and access to emergency contraceptives. Republican lawmakers decried the measure, claiming that it violated the hospital’s right [...]
Lawsuit Filed to Remove “In God We Trust” from U.S. Money
March 13, 2013 By 51 Comments
Here’s a fun read: A 116 page complaint filed in federal court February 1st. Why is it fun? The plaintiffs say all the things we’ve said for years. FFRF is the lead plaintiff. Its press release, issued late yesterday afternoon, follows the giant upvote. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, along with 19 other plaintiffs, is [...]
Law and Secularism – the Week in Review 3/7/13
March 7, 2013 By 2 Comments
Reproductive Rights News Arkansas has passed the most restrictive abortion laws in the entire country. Both bills were vetoed by the governor, who said they were unconstitutional, but the state legislature overrode both vetoes in quick measure. I ranted about this on my own blog earlier this week, and all the depressing details are there. [...]
The Week in Review – Law and Secularism 2/21/13
February 21, 2013 By 7 Comments
Anne’s back… Frankenhand’s post-surgical bandages are off. I can type again! This is good news, because I can’t dictate well enough for Dragon Naturally Speaking to understand me. When I complained about this to my former secretary the other day over lunch, she cleared her throat awkwardly, shifted uncomfortably in her chair, and changed the [...]
Bloomington, Indiana and Same Sex Marriage: It’s about Equal Rights
February 7, 2013 By 5 Comments
Anne here… Suppose you are an elected official, authorized to perform marriages in your community, and there is a ban on same-sex marriage in your state. But suppose further, that you believe this ban is not only wrong, it unconstitutionally deprives same-sex couples of equal protection. A same-sex couple has just approached you asking you [...]
One Week Left: Support the Darwin Day Resolution!
February 6, 2013 By 12 Comments
Anne here… I got this yesterday from the American Humanist Association. Dear Friend, By now, you’ve probably heard that the American Humanist Association worked with Representative Rush Holt (NJ) to introduce a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives “expressing support for designation of February 12, 2013, as Darwin Day and recognizing the importance [...]
Report Released on How Texas Public Schools Teach the Bible
February 2, 2013 By 3 Comments
Anne here… Nearly 50 years ago the U.S. Supreme Court decided School District of Abington Township v. Schempp, and held that public school courses that use the Bible in a purely secular manner, and which do not cross the line into religious instruction or present the subject from a particular religious viewpoint, are acceptable. Ever since, [...]
A Rainbow in the Kentucky Mountains
January 31, 2013 By 4 Comments
I don’t know if I’m going to be able to give a good legal roundup for a couple of weeks – I’ve been having trouble with my right hand, and what I thought was arthritis behaving badly has turned out to be a couple of gnarled tendons that are going to have to get cut [...]
The Week in Review: Law and Atheism 1/17/2013
January 17, 2013 By 3 Comments
Reproductive Rights News Update This week, Pew Research Center released new polling data that seems to indicate that even among pro-life people, support for reproductive rights is at an all-time high. There seems to be more acceptance that abortions should be safe and legal when they do occur, even if these people would not choose [...]
Michele Bachman and the House Intelligence Committee
January 12, 2013 By 10 Comments
Anne here – If you haven’t already signed it, I’d like to issue a WWJTD activism alert for the petition by the People for the American Way to remove Michele Bachmann the House Intelligence Committee. There are any number of reasons for doing this, but primary among them is that she has never met a [...]
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