Americans United for Separation of Church and State Annual Meeting

When: Oct. 30-31, 2016

Where: Mayer Brown Law Firm, Town Hall A+B+C, 1999 K Street, NW @ 20th Street, Washington, DC 20006

"RFRA: Religious Freedom or License to Discriminate?"

Speaking Tour

Toni Van Pelt, President of Institute for Science and Human Values

Based on religious objections with increasing frequency, we are seeing individuals, businesses, organizations and institutions claiming a right to discriminate by refusing to provide services to women, LGBTI people and the disability community and by resorting to hiring discrimination. These are the same arguments that were used in the 1960s to oppose laws requiring integration in restaurants because of sincerely held beliefs that God wanted the races to be separate. We even saw some religiously affiliated universities refuse to admit students who engaged in interracial dating.

Now the radical right is working to expand allowance of this discrimination for "moral" reasons. Imposing beliefs on others who do not share them goes against the very fiber and core of Secular Humanist, Feminist and shared American family values and principles. Ms Van Pelt will discuss the history of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), and outline the damage it has done to date and the potential for future damage. She will also discuss ways you can help to stem the tide of religious special exemptions to the rule of the law and to assist and insist in the establishment of secular moral principles in American culture.

Sponsored by The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin

When: Oct. 23, Sunday, 7-9pm

Where: The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover, Austin Tx

(512 452-6168)

Sponsored by the Houston Black Non-Believers and Americans United for Separation of Church and State-Houston

When: Oct. 20, Thursday from 6:30 pm - 8pm

Where: Third Ward Multi-Service Center located at 3611 Ennis St, Houston, TX 77004

Co-Sponsored by:
• Secular Humanist Society of New York
• New York Society for Ethical Culture
• Secular Coalition for New York

When: Sep. 21, Wednesday, 6:30pm - FREE

Where: The New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 West 64 Street, at Central Park West.

(212) 874-5210

Sponsored by Peoria Secular Humanist Society

When: Aug. 18, Thursday, 6-8pm

Where: Peoria Riverplex, 600 NE Water Street, Peoria, IL 61603

Join Toni Van Pelt at the National Organization for Women 2016 Conference "Forward Feminism" as she presents:

Freedom Under Attack: Protecting Real Religious Liberty is Radical and Imperative- Saturday, June 25, 2016

Religious liberty is a fundamental American principle; it belongs to each individual. Currently that freedom is under siege as the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and its conservative allies attempt to redefine it as the right to protect their business interest at the expense of women, workers, LGBTQIA individuals, students and anyone who disagrees with them. Coalition for Liberty & Justice experts will examine the spurious arguments of the Catholic hierarchy and their allies who would use religion to distort constitutional protections, undermine equality, restrict access to important health care and other services for women, workers and LGBTQIA individuals and otherwise violate individuals’ conscience and civil rights.

Moderator Glenn Northern – Domestic Program Senior Associate, Catholics for Choice, coordinating work of the Coalition for Liberty & Justice; CFC liaison with the media, the public and advocates for policies that protect what real religious liberty should mean in this country.

Toni Van Pelt – President and Public Policy Director, Institute for Science and Human Values, Inc.; former Board Member, National Organization for Women; conducting a recent speaking tour of the U.S. to raise awareness and warn of the dangers of religious refusals being enacted into public law to elevate religious views above civil rights protections and other laws which permit discrimination against certain persons and groups.

Candace Gibson – Policy Analyst/Legal Counsel, the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health; represents interests of marginalized communities in policies which seek to limit access to citizenship, healthcare and other social services through public policy and law at the state and federal levels.

When: Saturday, June 25, 2:45 p.m. to 4 p.m

Where: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill • Address: 400 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, Bunker Hill Room

"RFRA: Religious Freedom or License to Discriminate?"

Speaking Tour

Toni Van Pelt, President of Institute for Science and Human Values

Sponsored by First Coast Freethought Society

When: Monday, February 15, 2016 6:30-8:30PM

Where: Buckman Bridge Unitarian Church, 8447 Manresa Ave, Jacksonville FL

Sponsored by Institute for Science and Human Values

When: Monday, February 08, 2016

Where: Calle 64 #350A por 37 y 39 97000 Col Centro Merida, Yuc Mexico

Sponsored by New Orleans Secular Humanist Association

When: Saturday, January 16, 2016 4:00PM

Where: Jefferson Parrish Public Library, 4747 W. Napoleon Av. Metairie, LA

Sponsored by Humanists of the Treasure Coast

When: Sunday, January 10, 2016 10:30AM

Where: Clarion Inn, 1200 SE Federal Hwy, Stuart, FL