Who We AreThe American Humanist Association (AHA) is a 501c3 non-profit educational organization founded in 1941 at the University of

Chicago. The AHA advances Secular Humanism, a philosophy of life that, without theism or other supernatural beliefs, affirms the ability and responsibility of human beings to lead personal lives of ethical fulfillment that aspire to the greater good. We strive to bring about a progressive society where being good without a god is an accepted and respected way to live life.

What We DoWe work tirelessly in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend civil liberties, secular governance, scientific integrity,

and social justice.

The AHA has over 34,000 members and supporters and over 240 local humanist groups across the country. With our extensive local and national media contacts, our lobbying and coalition efforts on Capitol Hill, and the efforts of our grassroots activists, we ensure that the humanist point of view—the idea that you can be good without having a belief in a god—is represented.

Our adjunct organizations and programs defend the Jeffersonian wall of separation between church and state (Appignani Humanist Legal Center), advance humanist thought in the realm of education (Center for Education), endorse humanist celebrants to lead ceremonial observances and apply humanism to daily life (Humanist Society), and affirm humanism’s commitment to social justice advocacy (Black Humanist Alliance, Feminist Humanist Alliance, Latinx Humanist Alliance, and LGBTQ Humanist Alliance).

In addition to traditional media, we engage the public through a heavy online presence. We also publish The Humanist (an award-winning magazine) and Free Mind (our quarterly newsletter) and cover breaking news through articles on TheHumanist.com, and our podcast The Humanist Hour (currently on hiatus).

What is humanism?Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that aspire to the greater good.

Humanism is a worldview which says that reason and science are the best ways to understand the world around us, and that dignity and compassion should be the basis for how you act toward someone else.

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Select membership level: Incarcerated Member: $2 Low-income Member: $25 Regular Member: $45

New members receive: AHA Executive Director

Roy Speckhardt’s book Creating Change Through Humanism

a free bookmark a one-year subscription to

the Humanist magazine and Free Mind newsletter

To join, complete this form, detach, and mail with check, money order, or $2 in unused stamps to:

American Humanist Association 1821 Jefferson Place NW

Washington DC, 20036

$4.99 A Publication of the American Humanist Association | VOLUME 62, NO. 4 WINTER 2018American Humanist Association Cheers Senate Resolution Opposing Blasphemy Laws The American Humanist Association was proud to work with Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE) to introduce a Senate resolution in September encouraging the president and the Department of State to protect religious freedom for all by encouraging the repeal of blasphemy laws around the globe.

As AHA Legislative Director Matthew Bulger explained, “Blasphemy laws are meant to terror-ize and endanger religious and secular minori-ties in their home countries, threatening free expression with long jail sentences or execu-tion.” Bulger emphasized, “The new resolution urges countries that maintain these laws to act to protect religious and nonreligious minori-ties from torture or imprisonment by repealing them immediately.”Sen. Coons stated upon introduction of the resolution that “Freedom of expression and reli-gion are fundamental human rights that are the bedrock of any open society. As a person of faith, I am proud to introduce this resolution which aims to protect religious and secular minori-ties by calling for the repeal of blasphemy, her-esy, and apostasy laws around the world. These laws stifle free and open discourse, and are often used to imprison activists, journalists, and other peaceful political dissidents. No one should be persecuted based on what they believe or don’t believe, and this resolution is a positive step toward defending individual liberties.”

New Latinx Humanist Alliance Launches at American Humanist Association

The American Humanist Association is excited to announce our new affinity group, the Latinx Humanist Alliance!The Latinx Humanist Alliance’s mission is to facilitate social justice activism among, expand the visibility of, and foster safe spaces for Latinx humanists. In service of their mission, the alliance will develop a speakers bureau, build a nationwide network of Latinx humanists, and advise and work alongside the AHA on social justice legislative advocacy.“There is a lack of Latinx perspectives in vital conversations throughout the country,” says Luciano Gonzalez, co-chair of the Latinx Humanist Alliance. The Latinx Humanist Alliance seeks to change this by empowering Latinx humanists and amplifying the voices of those of us who are hard at work organiz-ing and empowering our national commu-nity. We are made up of bold and unapolo-getic activists who seek to ensure that Latinx individuals are present at vital humanistic activities and conferences, as well as are being heard by humanistic and otherwise irreligious communities and organizations.”Gonzalez emphasizes, “We are mission-driven, detail-oriented, and ready to put in the work needed to become a powerful

American Humanist Association Welcomes Stiefel Freethought Foundation Gift

In early October, the Stiefel Freethought Foundation pledged $25,000 to the American Humanist Association to fund a research project regarding the pub-lic opinion of nontheists. The foun-dation has pledged an additional $1,000 matching gift, up to an addi-tional $25,000, for every new elected official who identifies as a humanist, atheist, or nontheist at the federal and state levels this year.“In these days of political divi-siveness, hatred, and bigotry on the national scale, it’s more important than ever that we see humanist val-ues exemplified in our elected offi-cials,” explained Todd Stiefel. “I’m proud to support efforts across the country to increase the visibility and number of atheist, humanist, and other nontheist elected officials.”Since its founding in 2009, the Stiefel Freethought Foundation has funded numerous nonprofits that promote freethought and the

acceptance of atheists and human-ists in the United States. The mis-sion of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation is to secure human-ity’s future by ensuring public policy decisions are based on love and reason, rather than bias and dogma. Todd Stiefel has given over $5 million to nonprofit advocacy and education organizations.“As the number of nonreligious American grows rapidly, their val-ues must be reflected in public office,” says Roy Speckhardt, exec-utive director of the American Humanist Association. He contin-ued, “We thank Todd and the Stiefel Freethought Foundation for their continued commitment to the pro-motion of humanistic values.”

LATINXHumanistALLIANCE

The bipartisan resolution formally calls on the president and the State Department to promote the repeal of blasphemy, heresy, and apostasy laws wherever they are found. The language also encourages United States officials to oppose any attempts by the United Nations to support blas-phemy laws, in keeping with the UN Declaration of Human Rights.

“The US government can and should use our leverage as a world leader to help protect reli-gious minorities in nations with whom we have or form international agreements and relation-ships,” said Sen. Lankford. “I am grateful to stand with Senator Coons to introduce this resolution

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TRUENORTH:A Model for Climate Justice in the Land of 10,000 Lakes

A RASH OF BANS: Theocrats

Threaten Women’s Economic Liberation

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Become a member today! Reduced rates available for incarcerated and low-income individuals.

Join the American Humanist Association

Become an AHA member!Help us further humanism by increasing our numbers and strengthening our voice. AHA offers

a $2 reduced rate membership exclusively to incarcerated individuals. Membership includes a one-year subscription to the Humanist (6 issues), the Free Mind newsletter (4 issues), AHA Executive Director Roy Speckhardt’s book Creating Change through Humanism, and an AHA bookmark.

To join, fill out the form at right, detach, and mail with your check, money order, or $2 in unused stamps.

Become a pen pal!Our advocacy includes an appreciation of how contact with the outside world fosters a positive,

healthy, and hopeful attitude in incarcerated people. For this reason, we will put you in contact with a volunteer humanist pen pal.

We seek to provide humanist friendship, intellectual exchange, and an educational opportunity. Please be mindful that this is neither a dating service nor an opportunity to solicit volunteers for money. We ask that you treat your pen pal with the courtesy and respect you believe they would wish shown towards them.

To request a humanist pen pal, write to us at the AHA address with some details about yourself.

Email us!If email is better for you than snail mail, please contact us for general correspondence

on Corrlinks at rspeckhardt@americanhumanist.org or on JPay at enewman@americanhumanist.org. For legal needs, you can reach our legal team on Corrlinks at mmiller@americanhumanist.org or on JPay at ioldfield@americanhumanist.org.

Form a humanist group and AHA Chapter at your institution!You have the right to form a humanist group at

your institution and AHA can provide legal support to do so. Start by reaching out to the appropriate contact person at your prison and inquire about the necessary steps in forming a humanist group. If you would like to be an AHA Chapter, gather 5 registered AHA members, agree democratically to join the AHA and adopt the Humanist Manifesto, and write to the AHA Grassroots Coordinator at the AHA address. AHA chapters receive preference for educational materials and staff support on programming. Your group will be listed on our website and we will try to connect you with local AHA members and groups. We can share educational materials to help facilitate group discussions.

Write for Inside the Walls!To increase the visibility of humanism thriving within the US prison system, a column by

incarcerated humanists runs in the AHA’s bimonthly magazine the Humanist. We seek personal narrative submissions of 700–1,400 words on personal experiences learning about humanism in prison; incidences of overt religiosity and proselytizing among fellow incarcerated people; efforts to bring humanism to the prison; or observation of government endorsement of religion.

To submit, write to: Editor, American Humanist Association, 1821 Jefferson Place NW, Washington DC, 20036

We will send you a writer agreement. Authors are presented as first name and initial of last name to allow privacy.

1821 Jefferson Place NW Washington, DC 20036

800.837.3792 202.238.9088americanhumanist.org