ANNUAL REPORT message from the president
Looking back on 2020 brings to mind the from our allies, both houses of Congress passed Dickensian cliché: “It was the best of times, it was resolutions requiring the U.S. Government to the worst of times.” The havoc a pandemic can support the repeal of blasphemy laws around the wreak, even as we see the very best of the human world, repeals that could quite literally save lives spirit engaged in fighting it. Tens of millions voting in many countries. The U.S. District Court in decisively against a wannabe dictator, even as South Carolina ruled in favor of the AHA in its the peaceful transition of power is disrupted. longstanding lawsuit against Greenville County Millions demonstrating across the country for School District over school-sponsored prayers. months against racism, while millions of others We were also looking ahead and planning for seem very comfortable voting for a vision that casually enables Christian White supremacy. the future as we adopted the AHA Strategic Plan for 2021-2023. This positions the AHA to better Dickens was writing in the 1850’s about events at promote public awareness of humanism, embrace the end of the 1700’s. My fervent hope is that future the full population of American humanists, and writers will be able to say that this period in our advocate for humanist positions. history did not merit more superlatives than any other: that this was not the beginning of the end In 2021 the AHA will be saying au revoir to one of in this republic for liberal democracy or the the most effective leaders in American nontheism, separation between religion and government. Executive Director Roy Speckhardt. In fifteen years at the helm, Roy guided the transformation of the In 2020, our hardworking staff and committed AHA from an organization focused on the philo- volunteers adapted superbly to the pandemic. sophical aspects of humanism to a grassroots The AHA’s Education Center was able to increase and advocacy organization that punches above its their virtual offerings tenfold, and adapt to weight. Some of the recent milestones he oversaw feature humanist perspectives on coping with the include catalyzing the formation of the Congres- pandemic. In August, more than 1,300 humanists sional Freethought Caucus, naming of humanists attended our virtual 79th Annual Conference, in federal legislation for the first time, and our staff one of our most successful ever. attorney arguing a case at the U.S. Supreme Court. Advancing antiracism was front and center at While we are grateful for all his contributions, and the AHA, as the Board of Directors, maybe the most that he has committed to continue to be involved diverse in the nonreligious movement, said that as a volunteer chairing the Board Committee “humanism and social justice go hand in hand,” on Advancement, his leadership of the staff will in its statement made a few days after the killing be sorely missed. His successor will be chosen of George Floyd. through a nationwide search currently underway involving all stakeholders at the organization. The advocacy work of the AHA continued to advance in 2020 in all aspects, particularly on the legal and As we all work our way through what will hopefully the legislative fronts. In a first for any nontheist be a less challenging year in 2021, I hope you organization, Congress heard testimony from the continue to live our humanist values, showing that AHA. As a result of our leading efforts with help you would rather be good than godly any day. contents humanism by the numbers 2 Defending the First Amendment 4 Humanism on Capitol Hill 6 Teaching Humanism and Growing Community Social Justice Advocacy 664,000 8 LIKES ON FACEBOOK 10 Distant but Together: AHA’s 79th Annual Conference 295 12 The Humanist Magazine HUMANIST and theHumanist.com CELEBRANTS, CHAPLAINS & 14 The Center for Freethought Equality , LAY LEADERS 15 AHA Programs and Adjuncts 71TWITTER000 FOLLOWERS 16 Making a Difference: 2020 Supporters 19 Financial Summary 20 How to Support Humanism 21 AHA Board of Directors 43,000,000 mission SOCIAL MEDIA IMPRESSIONS The mission of the American Humanist Association (AHA) is to ACTIONS THROUGH advance humanism. Advocating HUMANIST ACTION for equality for nontheists and a , HEADQUARTERS IN 2020 society guided by reason, empathy, 20000 and our growing knowledge of the world, the AHA promotes a worldview that encourages individuals to live 240 informed and meaningful lives that 47,000 AHA CHAPTERS aspire to the greater good. EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS & AFFILIATES defending the first amendment
The AHA’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center (AHLC) continues to be the leading legal advocacy arm of the nontheist movement. It defends the rights of atheist, humanist, and secular minorities in the courts, while adding the humanist perspective to the most consequential church-state separation cases in the United States today.
2020 Litigation Missionaries Class at Public School District in Stilwell, Oklahoma: The AHA filed a lawsuit in October 2020, on behalf Prayer at Public School Graduation Ceremonies in Greenville, SC: of a 5-year-old child and her parents. Maryetta Schools was hosting The U.S. District Court of South Carolina ruled in favor of the AHA in a Christian Missionaries assembly for students in prekindergarten its longstanding lawsuit against Greenville County School District over school-sponsored prayers, Christian hymns, and the use of through eighth grade in clear violation of the First Amendment’s religious venues at public school graduations. The victory is the Establishment Clause. The case is currently in the earliest culmination of a six-year court battle between the AHA and the stages of litigation and expected to ramp up throughout the school district. 2021 calendar year. Ten Commandments Display in Little Rock, AK: The AHA filed suit Demand-letter Activism in federal court to remove a controversial Ten Commandments In 2020 the AHA’s legal team sent targeted demand letters—virtually display from the state capitol grounds in Little Rock, Arkansas. The all successfully resolved—to various government entities objecting case is pending, awaiting summary judgment litigation. to church-state violations. Several noteworthy victories include: Police Prayer Vigil in Ocala, FL: In November 2014, the AHA brought Unconstitutional Prayer Display at Texas Public School this case on behalf of citizens of Ocala, Florida, who objected to the The AHA’s letter details that for at least two weeks in April, the police department’s sponsorship of a prayer rally. After extensive words “Just Pray” were prominently displayed on the Judson High discovery we received a favorable decision, but the city asked the School marquee at the entrance to the school and asked that court to reconsider based on another recently decided case and we Judson Independent School District cease the display, as well as are currently awaiting a ruling, expected by summer 2021. any other similar actions that violate the Establishment Clause of Humanist Legal Society event at the National Press Club, the First Amendment. Washington, DC, January 2020 Arkansas Governor Issues Unconstitutional Prayer Proclamation The AHA admonished Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson for issuing an unconstitutional Christian prayer proclamation. “This proclamation marginalizes citizens of every other faith in Arkansas as well as those who do not believe in any god or gods,” read the letter. Unconstitutional Christian Displays at Texas Public School The AHA sent a letter demanding the Somerset Independent School District in Texas remove a proselytizing Christian display: a classroom door display that proclaims, in large font, “I always thought LOVE was shaped like a [heart] But LOVE is actually shaped like a [Christian Cross],” with cutouts of a heart and a Christian cross.
2 Unconstitutional Texas Public School Activity The AHA admonished officials from Tyler Independent School District (TISD) in Texas for unconstitutionally holding school activities at Green Acres Baptist Church. The letter reads: “Green Acres Baptist Church is a traditional church sanctuary, is used regularly for chapel services and contains stained glass portraying a large cross, and religious literature in the pews. . . TISD’s practice of opening a mandatory convocation with a chaplain-led prayer, particularly when students are present, violates the Establishment Clause.” Unconstitutional Religious Statements made by Louisiana Governor Jon Bell Edwards In August 2020, the AHA contacted Louisiana Governor Jon Bell Edwards regarding statements made calling for days of fasting and prayer. The email reminded the governor of his obligation to Legal Director Monica Miller presents Legal Tuesdays on the remain neutral towards religion in his official capacity. AHA YouTube channel, October 2020
Amicus Briefs (friend-of-the-court) Activity Amicus Brief in Support of Adoption Services Amicus Brief Challenging Free from Religious Discrimination Christian Symbols on Government Property In August 2020, The AHA joined the Center for Inquiry and the AHA attorneys, in conjunction with secular and interfaith allies, Freedom from Religion Foundation in a friend-of-the-court brief filed an amicus curiae brief at the First Circuit Court of Appeals filed at the Supreme Court. The brief argued that allowing a religious in support of a lower court ruling in favor of the City of Boston in entity’s sectarian beliefs to control the administration of a denying a request to fly the Christian Flag in front of City Hall. governmental program, such as adoption, would violate the Amicus Brief filed at U.S. Supreme Court Challenging Establishment Clause. Arguments in the case Fulton v. City of Exceptions to Affordable Care Act’s Contraceptive Mandate Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were heard in November. The AHA co-signed an amicus curiae brief alongside American Athe- Amicus Brief in Support of Limiting the Ability of ists and Center for Inquiry supporting the State of Pennsylvania in Religious Employers to Discriminate Against Employees Little Sisters of the Poor Saints Peter and Paul Home, Petitioner v. In March 2020, the AHA joined American Atheists and the Center Pennsylvania, et al. The secular coalition’s brief asked the high court for Inquiry in supporting the respondents in Our Lady of Guadalupe to reject arguments for a religious exemption from key provisions School v. Morrissey-Berru at the Supreme Court. Our Lady of Guadalupe of the Affordable Care Act, including contraceptive coverage. School was consolidated with another ministerial exemption case, St. Amicus Brief Filed at U.S. Supreme Court James School v. Biel. In these cases, employers (both Catholic schools) Challenging an Eleventh Circuit Ruling argued that the First Amendment’s religious clauses prevent civil courts from deciding employment discrimination claims because The AHA filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Alliance the employee and employer functioned as “ministers” in their roles. Defending Freedom (ADF)’s case, Uzuegbunam v. Preczewski, at the Supreme Court. The AHA urged the Supreme Court to accept Amicus Brief Challenging the Constitutionality ADF’s case to overturn the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Circuit’s ruling that would leave many victims of First Amendment In January 2020, the AHA co-signed an amicus brief at the U.S. violations without a remedy. After the high court agreed to take Supreme Court in the ongoing religious freedom case, FNU Tanzin v. the case, AHA filed another amicus brief at the next stage of the Tanvir. In the brief, co-signers argued that the Religious Freedom case in September. Restoration Act is unconstitutional in nature.
2 3 AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT humanism on capitol hill
We continue to build political influence in the halls of government (though those halls became virtual in March due to the COVID-19 crisis) and gain traction on our policy priorities. Whether through direct meetings with government officials or by working in coalition with interfaith, nontheist, and civil liberties organizations, we have seen tremendous successes in 2020.
Combatting Blasphemy Laws National Day of Reason Resolution Blasphemy laws exist in more than 80 countries and are the most The National Day of Reason is a project of the AHA that works to explicit laws banning the expression of doubts or criticism regarding recognize the first Thursday in May as National Day of Reason, a religion. In several countries, the penalty for being found guilty of counter-event to the Congressionally-mandated National Day of violating these laws is death. Blasphemy laws are used to restrict Prayer. The AHA worked with Congress to secure its introduction. the rights of not just the nonreligious, but minorities of all faiths and philosophies, women, LGBTQ people, and political dissidents. Defending a Humanist Leader in Nigeria In January 2020 the AHA testified in front of Congress—for the first Mubarak Bala is the President of the Humanist Association of Nigeria. time in at least thirty years—in support of a congressional resolution He was arrested on April 28, 2020, for a Facebook post in which calling on the U.S. Government to support the repeal of blasphemy he allegedly insulted Prophet Muhammad. Bala has been kept in laws across the globe. We doubled the size of the AHA-led coalition isolation, without charge, since April 2020. The AHA, alongside other to end blasphemy laws to nearly 70 national organizations. Due to the perseverance of our policy team, this lifesaving resolution nontheist groups, worked tirelessly on Bala’s behalf from the time was passed by Congress in December. Congress’s adoption of the we were made aware of his arrest. We spoke directly to Ambassador resolution solidified the United States’ commitment to ending the at-large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback about criminalization of blasphemy, Bala’s arrest and detention. On behalf of fifteen secular organizations, heresy, and apostasy around we delivered a letter to the U.S. Commission on International the world. Republicans and Religious Freedom urging them to take action. And we’ve been Democrats working together elevating the case with members of the Congressional Freethought to get this done underscores Caucus. After learning about Bala’s case, Brownback and the U.S. our country’s continued Commission on International Religious Freedom issued public commitment to championing statements of support. Bala remains in detention, so there is still the freedom of thought, more to do and our advocacy is ongoing. religion, conscience, and belief AHA Policy and Social Justice Director for all people everywhere. Humanists in Action Rachel Deitch testifies to Congress In 2020, humanists wrote letters, called congressional offices, and submitted comments for the public record more than 20,000 Darwin Day Resolution times through our grassroots advocacy center, the Humanist The AHA worked with Congress to secure the introduction of the Action Headquarters. Issues included urging the Senate to Fund Darwin Day resolution, which every February honors both Darwin COVID-19 Relief for everyone regardless of immigration status and and modern scientists for their contributions to humanity, and telling Congress to keep school vouchers out of COVID-19 relief bills. also affirms the validity of evolution while opposing the teaching More humanists took action in 2020 than ever before, with a 200% of creationism in public schools. increase in activity from the previous year.
4 Our Resolution is a small but important step in prioritizing religious freedom and liberty of conscience worldwide and I thank AHA [American Humanist Association] for uplifting it.”
JAMIE RASKIN, Representative for Maryland’s 8th District
4 5 AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT teaching humanism and growing community The American Humanist Association’s Center for Education strives to provide educational opportunities and resources that serve humanist and secular communities. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, we increased our virtual offerings tenfold in 2020, connecting humanists across the nation who felt isolated by the pandemic.
Humanist Studies Program Humanism for All The Humanist Studies Program The AHA supports over 250 incarcerated humanist members. With (HSP) explores ontological assistance from volunteers and staff, the AHA sent incarcerated questions from a humanist humanists donated books and DVDs, over 350 winter holiday letters, perspective in historical and and provided support for new prison chapters. We also published contemporary contexts. It five articles by incarcerated members in our Inside the Walls series provides a solid grounding ranging in scope from breast cancer awareness, police violence, right in critical thinking, knowledge, to vote, scientific discoveries, and AHA’s pen pal program. truth, and humanist episte- 2020 Humanist Studies Graduates mologies, while analyzing and Master Class building a personal and articulate humanist system of values rom The Master Class offers continuing education for leaders across fundamental existential questions. HSP worked in partnership with the humanist and secular movement. In 2020 AHA hosted the Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary running two graduate-level third master class Intersectional Humanisms: Identity Politics, Justice courses on Humanism I: The Nature of Being and one graduate-level Work, and the Proliferation of Social Difference exploring the idea of course on Humanism II: The Anti-Racist Challenge. intersectionality, with a particular eye on why and how it matters for humanism and humanist leaders. HERE for Climate The HERE for Climate project brings attention to the global climate Ten Commitments crisis and engages humanists with actionable ways to combat The Ten Commitments represent humanistic values that promote climate change. Members from across the country came together a democratic world in which every individual’s worth and dignity to share their personal stories of how climate change effects their is respected, nurtured, and supported, and where human freedom daily lives and what actions they take in response. Along with these and ethical responsibility are motivating stories, news articles highlighting local-scale nonprofits natural aspirations for everyone. اندیشیدن همدردی فراگیر dedicated to climate resilience and tool kits were added to the The Ten Commitments has been مسئولیت HERE for Climate website to guide visitors to take action. translated into 11 languages مرام پذیری with a distribution of hundreds سازش .of posters across the world و برابری کردار نیک In Idyllwild, California, at an elevation of 6,000 اجتماعی An activities workbook to ده پیمان feet, the forest is changing from pine to cedar. Even live earn a humanist badge was humanistcommitments.org
© rg Am .o e ist ric an خدمت و an um H h uma ican گرامیداشت n r oak trees are thriving, though they used to thrive only developed for children that ist Association ame همکاری محیط زیست inspired curriculum development همیاری فروتنی at lower elevations.” —ANONYMOUS for Uganda Humanist Schools Trust, a children’s book series, Members shared their climate change stories on the HERE for Climate website and Camp Quest campers. The Ten Commitments in Farsi
6 Ovais Khalil (top left) leads a discussion with fellow humanists working in healthcare. The talk was part of the Speaking of Humanism series in August 2020.
Webinars and Lecture Series dive into a variety of concepts. Students joined instructors to learn and discuss Speaking of Humanism, a monthly program Alain Locke’s Imagination: Developing an Eye for highlighting humanist leaders and authors, being Black, Queer & Free Beyond Sight; A More moved from an in-person event to online. In-depth Look at Human Brain Evolution; When During 2020, Speaking of Humanism addressed We Almost Got It Right—Societies that Worked; the rise of religious nationalism, 2020 impact Humanist Community Music Therapy; and of the secular vote, new era of Jim Crow, Mindfulness Meditation. political clout of atheist and humanist community, youth activism, healthcare, art In the Special Topics series Humanism During of thinking freely, agnostics running for local COVID-19, selected panelists discussed how office, and the holidays for humanists. to connect with humanist community, how to engage in mutual aid, and how to live a The Critical Minds series addresses contem good life in the midst of a global pandemic. porary humanist topics in a 90-minute format. Anti-racism and Anti-Oppression, a six-part Ideas explored in 2020 include: Human Brain series, engaged 130 participants in examining Evolution; Art, Imagination, and Humanism— the insidious and often invisible ways white Humanitas; and The Neuropsychology of Dogmatic supremacy operates in our society, and Beliefs and Delusions. offering practical tools for both surviving and Further Reflection, an instructor-led multi- dismantling it within the context of secular, session short course series, provides a deeper non-theistic, and/or heathen spaces.
6 7 AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT social justice advocacy
The American Humanist Association, in its commitment to social justice, directly disrupts oppressive systems through legal and legislative advocacy, education, partnerships, and social justice alliances. Through this work, and with a focus on aspiring to the greater good of humanity, we strive to advance an inclusive world meant for all.
Coalition Work for Racial Justice LGBTQ Humanist Alliance The AHA joined a number of Black Lives Matter coalition The LGBTQ Humanist Alliance (LGBTQHA) held its first-ever campaigns, including participating in letters to the virtual Centering the Margins Summit with much success. Department of Justice urging justice for Breonna Taylor The day included inclusive and intersectional programing and George Floyd, supporting the George Floyd Justice that enabled LGBTQ members of the secular/humanist in Policing Act, and joining a letter to the Senate urging community to come together, learn from each other, them not to move forward with the problematic and connect on issues, and collaborate on actions. In a joint harmful JUSTICE Act. project, the LGBTQHA and the FHA developed the very first Call for Voices writing project to amplify marginalized Black Humanist Alliance humanists in our media. The FHA, LGBTQA, and the The Black Humanist Alliance (BHA) continued to serve in an Humanist magazine partnered to increase the visibility advisory capacity to AHA. Members of the BHA Leadership of writers of color and LGBTQ+ writers, and include more Council joined Center for Education and social justice social-justice content in the Humanist. programming, wrote for the Humanist, and contributed to our most recent policy expansion. Latinx Humanist Alliance The Latinx Humanist Alliance’s (LHA) advocacy work centered Feminist Humanist Alliance on providing COVID-19 testing, treatment, and cash payments The Feminist Humanist Alliance (FHA) signed on to legis for all, regardless of immigration status. Advocacy was lative advocacy letters across an array of topics and issues centered primarily on funding in COVID-19 relief bills in areas. Along with approximately 150 other organizations Congress. While funding wasn’t allotted for testing and including the AHA, the FHA co-signed a letter from the treatment, cash payments were eventually given to mixed Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights to the status families in the last COVID-19 relief bill of 2020. U.S. Senate expressing strong opposition to Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation to the Supreme Court. The FHA also Policy Expansion and Board Statements signed onto All* Above All’s letter urging President-elect Resolutions from the AHA’s Board of Directors enable Biden to make good on his campaign promise to end the the AHA to directly address the most pressing issues Hyde amendment, a ban on federal funding for abortion facing our fellow Americans. This year the board engaged except in cases of rape, incest, or a threat to the patient’s in the most activity in any recent year by adopting historic life. Additionally, the FHA gave out numerous grants to resolutions, a statement, and a call to action. This policy empower our humanist community to mobilize during this expansion includes resolutions on food insecurity; income time of crisis. Grants were given to AHA chapters, alliance wealth and inequality; gender-based and sexual violence; members, and individuals to fund COVID-19 relief work— and equitable taxation. A statement on justice, equity, including but not limited to—PPE supplies, food, direct diversity, and inclusion as well as a call for action against aid, and special programming. systemic racism were also enacted in 2020.
8 Allyship, especially as a privileged person, means you’ll get it wrong sometimes. Deconstructing systems requires deconstructing your subconscious complicity in them.”
KRISTA COX, Chair of the Leadership Council of the Feminist Humanist Alliance, speaking at AHA’s 79th Annual Conference
8 9 AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT distant but together: the AHA’s 79th annual conference
Each year, the American Humanist Association brings together people from across the country to celebrate the values of humanism at the Annual Conference. In 2020, in continuing to keep the movement connected and inspired, the AHA hosted an exciting virtual conference, Distant but Together: A Virtual Celebration of Humanism.
Because they couldn’t all gather in the same place, a record-setting 1,300 humanists across the country came together virtually on August 8th to hear from terrific humanist speakers who explored the values and principles that undergird the community. Sessions covered the current status of the church-state battleground, racial and economic equity in the age of COVID-19, open atheists in public office, the nature of scientific consensus and disagreement, recognizing one’s role in systems of oppression, and growing secular communities.
Conference presentations included (top left) “Beyond Colonial Humanism” with Jé Hooper (left) David Breeden (right); (top right) Debbie Goddard with “Diversity or Inclusion? Growing Our Secular Community”; and (bottom) “Is Atheism Still a Political Taboo?” by Hemant Mehta
10 2020 Humanist of the Year REPRESENTATIVE JARED HUFFMAN The only open humanist and agnostic currently in Congress and founder of the Congressional Freethought Caucus
AHA Executive Director Roy Speckhardt awarding Jared Huffman the Humanist of the Year award over Zoom The moral framework of humanism just works for me— right down the line. I love the focus on facts and science and reality. I love the focus on goodness as a human quality that we owe to each other and future generations rather than as some sort of a thing we need to do to gain entry to the afterlife. Humanism is a beautiful expression of the best of humanity, as I see it, and if everybody followed its principles I think we’d be a lot better off.”
JARED HUFFMAN, U.S. Representative for California’s 2nd District and 2020 Humanist of the Year
10 11 AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT the humanist magazine and thehumanist.com
The AHA’s flagship Humanist magazine and our weekly digital newsletter theHumanist.com bolster the AHA’s ability to promote humanist values and community.
Four Decades of the None Vote Welcome to the New “ROARING” TWENTIES Committed to providing readers with intellectual and ethical adventure, in 2020 the bimonthly Humanist magazine explored blasphemy and the war on secularism, philosophies on life and death in the time of pandemic, humanist e ris our i es perspectives on anti-racism and white supremacy, humanist representation the moment e start ie ing our ens in Congress, and much more. against re igious igotr an TheHumanist.com is a general-interest ezine that offers weekly articles on un amenta ism. the important ways the AHA is standing up for your rights and explores politics, —DR. AVIJIT ROY, 1972–2015 science, technology, art, and culture from a humanist perspective. It boasts over 66,000 page views per month, with popular articles on rights vs. responsi- Blasphemy and the bility, government bailout of religion during the pandemic, reproductive rights, War on Secularism Where will 2020 take us? for a call to end the National Prayer Breakfast, and the damaging impact of Trump’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Anti-Racism Marches Sweep US (and their readers) MATTER after George Floyd Killed by Police PLUS: WHY BOOKS The next year will see changes as the AHA redefines its publications, but they will continue to bring our members and supporters the enlightening and significant explorations of humanist values that you have come to expect. but Not Alone Philosophies on life and death in a time of pandemic Can good governance secure liberty?