2023 Annual Report | Defending Separation of Church and State

In 2023 the American Humanist Association remained steadfast in its commitment to protecting the rights of humanists and promoting secularism in the face of legal challenges and societal discrimination. Throughout the past year, our legal team has been actively involved in various cases and initiatives aimed at defending humanist principles and ensuring equality for all individuals, regardless of belief.

Landmark Settlements and Legal Challenges

  • Protecting Public School Students: AHA successfully reached a settlement with an Oklahoma school district, putting an end to the practice of allowing missionaries to proselytize to public school children. This victory not only secured compensation for a child admonished for her family’s humanist beliefs but also ensured that such practices are prohibited in the future, safeguarding the rights of students and families.
  • Arkansas Ten Commandments: In collaboration with partners such as the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), AHA’s legal team has been actively challenging the state of Arkansas’s attempt to elevate the Christian faith above others by erecting a monument of the Ten Commandments on state capitol grounds. Oral arguments have been presented, and we await the court’s decision on this critical matter.
  • Police Endorsed Prayer Vigil: The AHA has been working to hold the Ocala, Florida police department accountable for sponsoring, promoting, and leading a prayer vigil. This case has faced opposition from anti-democratic religious groups attempting to dismiss the lawsuit. The police department’s actions violated the Constitution by promoting a specific religion, ignoring concerns from affected citizens. Despite winning in court, the city appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking a favorable ruling from its conservative majority. Fortunately, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case, upholding the lower court’s decision, but sent it back to the District Court for further deliberation. This ongoing legal battle highlights the persistent efforts by some local authorities to undermine citizens’ rights, reflecting broader issues occurring across the United States.

Advocacy for Equality and Justice

  • Support for Humanist Celebrants: AHA actively supported a Virginian Celebrant’s application, leading to the approval of their previously denied application. This ensures that humanist celebrants receive equal recognition and privileges as celebrants of other faiths, allowing individuals to choose celebrants whose beliefs align with their own for important life events.
  • Amicus Briefs: AHA has actively participated in various legal battles by signing amicus briefs, including cases such as Biden v. Nebraska and Department of Education v. Brown, advocating for student loan forgiveness, and Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food & Drug Administration, supporting the accessibility of abortion pills like Mifepristone.

Institutional Accountability and First Amendment Protections

  • Internal Policy Investigations: AHA conducted investigations into the Oregon Department of Corrections’ internal policies regarding religious accommodations, ensuring that humanist inmates are afforded the same rights and opportunities as those of theistic religions.
  • Combatting Discrimination: AHA collaborated with organizations like American Atheists and Metroplex Atheists in lawsuits against government entities for denying the right to free speech critical of religion, highlighting the importance of First Amendment protections and combatting discrimination based on beliefs.

Engagement and Education

  • Legal Town Hall:  AHA hosted “Reining in a Rogue Supreme Court,” a town hall webinar, providing insights into the history of the Supreme Court and ongoing legal cases, fostering community engagement and education.