Public Policy

Nearly Half of U.S. States Fail to Protect Religious Equality, American Atheists’ Report Finds

Washington, D.C.—Today, American Atheists released the 2019 State of the Secular States report. By assessing more than 40 categories of statewide laws and policy measures affecting religious equality in all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, this study represents the most comprehensive analysis on the subject. The 2019 State of…...

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Department of Education Proposed Data Collection Rules May Put Atheist Students at Risk

Washington, D.C.—Today, in order to avoid an increase in anti-atheist bullying, American Atheists offered improvements to the U.S. Department of Education’s proposal to collect religious bullying data....

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American Atheists Opposes HUD’s Plan to Rollback Housing Protections for Nonreligious Americans

Cranford, NJ—On Tuesday, American Atheists submitted comments opposing a proposed rule by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that would rollback housing civil rights protections for atheists, religious minorities, people of color, and other minority groups....

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American Atheists Opposes Employment Discrimination in the Name of Religion

Washington, D.C.—Today, American Atheists submitted testimony opposing the U.S. Department of Labor’s proposal to greatly expand the number of federal contractors who can claim religious exemptions, as well as the scope of those exemptions....

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Atheists: Labor Department Rules Allowing Religious Discrimination Are ‘Disgusting, Un-American’

Cranford, NJ—Today, the Department of Labor announced a proposed rule that would allow government contractors to ignore civil rights and anti-discrimination laws under the guise of religion. It is estimated that nearly a quarter of Americans work at employers with federal contracts....

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American Atheists Submits Testimony Opposing Dangerous Religious Exemptions in Health Care

Washington, DC—Today, American Atheists submitted testimony opposing the Department of Health and Human Services’ Affordable Care Act 1557 proposed rule that would exacerbate discrimination in government-funded health care....

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Atheists Raise Concerns About Religious Funding in Criminal Justice Reform

Washington, DC—In a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, American Atheists joined a coalition of secular groups urging the Senate to strike a provision in the First Step Act that funds “faith-based classes or services.”...

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Atheists: The Trump Administration is Undermining Religious Equality

Washington, DC—American Atheists led a coalition of atheist and secular groups in raising serious concerns about how the Trump administration has eroded religious equality, undermining the civil rights of all Americans....

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