Legal Archives - American Atheists

American Atheists warns Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling undermines public education, pluralism

American Atheists — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 17:24:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC – American Atheists, a national civil rights organization, condemns today’s Supreme Court decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, agreeing with Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s stark dissent that this decision “threatens the very essence of public education.” The case was brought by a group of Maryland parents who claimed their children should be permitted to “opt out” of reading storybooks featuring LGBTQ+ characters. The plaintiffs claimed these books violated their religious beliefs. In granting parents the broad ability to opt their children out of public school curricula they deem to be objectionable, the conservative justices not only distort the principle of religious freedom but also jeopardize both the ability of schools to serve students and the ability of students to engage with diverse perspectives that are essential in America’s pluralistic society. In April, American Atheists filed an amicus brief in the case, which was joined by the Secular Student Alliance and the Secular Coalition for America. The brief argued that requiring schools and teachers to pre-clear every lesson with every parent for every possible religious objection would be infeasible and antithetical to decades of legal precedent. In her dissent, Justice Sotomayor agreed, “The result will be chaos for this Nation’s public schools… The harm will not be borne by educators alone: Children will suffer too. Classroom disruptions and absences may well inflict long-lasting harm on students’ learning and development.” At a time when classroom censorship and book bans are increasingly prevalent, American Atheists warns today’s ruling will serve as fodder for the far-religious-right’s nationwide campaign to restrict students’ access to inclusive and informative materials. Approximately 90% of kids and teens in the United States attend public schools, and an abundance of research has demonstrated the benefits of multicultural education and culturally responsive practices. Geoffrey T. Blackwell, Legal Director for American Atheists cautioned, “We have two legal systems in this country now. Atheists challenging a 40-foot Christian cross owned and maintained by the government at a major thoroughfare are told “tough luck,” and the Supreme Court says it’s a secular symbol. A high school football coach abusing his authority to force his religion on players? The Court finds he’s just engaging in free speech. But when religious parents object to their children merely being exposed to any idea that conflicts with their beliefs, this Court will tear down our entire public school system to protect their feelings.” As an organization that envisions a pluralistic society where all people can participate fully without fear, American Atheists is gravely concerned about the implications of Mahmoud v. Taylor for free speech, religious freedom, and the rights of students to access information and literature that represents the full breadth of American pluralism and a diversity of perspectives. Since its founding in 1963, American Atheists has argued freethought is foundational to democracy, and the targeted erasure of certain, nonconforming viewpoints in schools is a dangerous step toward silencing the voices of already-marginalized and -maligned communities. “A dangerous precedent has been established today, one that will censor free thought, chill free speech, and fuel the rise of authoritarian policies seeking not just to shelter kids from diverse perspectives […]

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Atheists: Skrmetti Ruling Rejects Reality & Promotes Ideology Over Liberty

American Atheists — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 22:20:19 +0000

Washington, D.C. — In a deeply troubling 6–3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Even as transgender Americans face widespread discrimination, stigma, and violence, the Court refused to treat anti-trans laws with heightened constitutional suspicion. American Atheists, a national civil rights organization, says the Court’s ruling in U.S. v. Skrmetti is a dangerous assault on equal protection, personal autonomy, and evidence-based policy that will empower Christian Nationalist state legislators to continue targeting LGBTQ+ Americans, particularly trans young people and their families, with minimal legal scrutiny. “For this Court to say that a law banning gender-affirming care is not making distinctions based on sex is the height of absurdity,” said Geoffrey T. Blackwell, Legal Director for American Atheists. “Justice Roberts and the other ultra-conservatives on the Court are not only continuing their detachment from reason and reality but dragging the rest of us along with them.” By endorsing a law that rejects decades of scientific evidence and expert medical consensus, the Court has abandoned its duty to protect the rights and freedoms of vulnerable individuals from political overreach. Justice Clarence Thomas, in particular, argued that “elite sentiment” and “so-called experts” should not override ideologically driven or religiously motivated legislation. American Atheists warns today’s decision not only immediately threatens the well-being of transgender youth and invades their families’ private health care decisions, but also opens the door to broader political interference in medical care for all Americans. “Science is clear: gender-affirming care saves lives. It is supported by every major medical and psychological association in the country,” said Nick Fish, President of American Atheists. “And yet, this decision will encourage lawmakers across the country to introduce and enact harmful legislation that dictates who can receive what type of care, further endangering all Americans’ access to evidence-based health care and opening the door to broader, ideologically driven restrictions on our personal freedoms.” “This ruling is not only a major loss for the LGBTQ+ community but to anyone — religious or not — who believes our laws should be based on facts and freedom for all, not the faith and fears of a few,” added Fish. “To all those impacted by today’s ruling: We see you, we support you, and we will never stop fighting for your right to live free, full, and authentic lives free from religious hate, pseudoscientific bigotry, and state-sponsored discrimination.”

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Atheists Applaud Court Decisions Supporting Public Education

American Atheists — Thu, 22 May 2025 17:13:21 +0000

Today, in a divided decision and with one recusal, the Supreme Court of the United States ultimately upheld the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s ruling that public funding for religious schools is unconstitutional. American Atheists filed an amicus brief last month urging the Court to recognize a taxpayer-funded religious school would be antithetical to our nation’s history and traditions. The brief was joined by the American Humanist Association, Secular Student Alliance, Secular Coalition for America, and the Center for Inquiry. “Today’s ruling is a major victory for nonreligious Americans and, indeed, for all supporters of church-state separation. The lower court got it right: The First Amendment is clear our government must never compel taxpayers to support a particular religion,” said Nick Fish, president of American Atheists. Also today, a federal judge blocked – at least temporarily – the White House’s unlawful directive to dismantle the Department of Education. The agency has been ordered to reinstate laid-off employees to prevent “the irreparable harm” caused by a “loss of essential services” that are required by Congress, including the enforcement of civil rights laws. “While we celebrate both of these wins, we also know Christian Nationalists will not stop here, and neither will we,” said Fish. “The very principle of religious freedom for all remains under attack. Our nonsectarian public schools are still under attack. Just last night, the House passed a disastrous voucher bill to divert public dollars to unaccountable and discriminatory religious schools. We must remain vigilant and continue fighting every day to defend the First Amendment against revisionists and religious supremacists.”

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American Atheists Files Briefs in Two Supreme Court Cases to Defend Secular Public Education

American Atheists — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:00:44 +0000

This week, American Atheists filed amicus briefs in two key cases before the U.S. Supreme Court urging the Court to uphold longstanding precedent to protect secular public schools in the United States.

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Atheists ask Court to Defend Workers’ First Amendment Rights

American Atheists — Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:50:26 +0000

Washington, D.C. — American Atheists, a national civil rights organization, filed an amicus brief today in Catholic Charities v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in this case could determine, for the first time, whether nonprofit organizations doing charity work motivated by religious belief must be exempted from paying unemployment taxes. In Wisconsin, the state labor commission denied an application for exemption submitted by Catholic Charities, whose activities were deemed “not religious.” The state Supreme Court agreed with that assessment, finding the organization “did not proselytize, did not conduct worship services, religious outreach, or religious education.” Catholic Charities contends that Wisconsin — and numerous other states with similar unemployment insurance programs — are violating its free exercise rights. The nonprofit is demanding that its employees be excluded from critical government benefits, like unemployment insurance protections, solely because they work for a faith-based organization. American Atheists, which advocates for the separation of church and state, disagrees. “Empathy knows no creed, and charities around the country employ millions of people who each have their own reasons for doing charitable work. Their rights must be protected,” said Geoffrey Blackwell, Legal Director for American Atheists. “For example, if the Supreme Court takes Catholic Charities side in this case, health care workers in places like Durango, Colorado, where the only hospital within two hours is run by a religious organization, would be denied government unemployment protections solely because the hospital where they work has religious reasons for providing health care. That is a situation no American should face.” In the amicus brief filed today, American Atheists maintains the Establishment Clause rightfully and forcefully prohibits the government from using its taxation powers to coerce professions of religious belief, and that Catholic Charities is, therefore, violating the First Amendment by seeking a tax exemption based solely on a profession of religious belief. “The legal theory Catholic Charities is presenting here echoes the very same violations that shocked American colonists and prompted them to ratify our First Amendment,” stated Blackwell. “The Supreme Court has repeatedly found that excluding people from government programs, like unemployment insurance, based on religion alone is unconstitutional.” “Nonprofit employees are public servants, and whether we’re religious or not, we are all motivated by a desire to make a positive impact on our communities,” said Nick Fish, President of American Atheists. “It’s unconscionable that an organization like Catholic Charities would try to deny their hardworking employees public benefits simply because it’s religious.” You can read American Atheists’ amicus brief here. A decision is expected from the U.S. Supreme Court by late June.

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Atheists Applaud Supreme Court’s Rejection of Effort to Limit Medication Abortion

American Atheists — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:50:19 +0000

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously rejected a lawsuit brought by the Christian nationalist law firm, Alliance Defending Freedom, seeking to prevent millions of Americans from accessing the safe and effective abortion medication, mifepristone. The opinion found that, “Under the Constitution… a plaintiff’s desire to make a drug less available for others does not establish standing to sue.” In response to the ruling, Alison Gill, Vice President of Legal & Policy for American Atheists, released the following statement: We are relieved the Court has confirmed the rules of standing still apply, even to Christians, as we argued in an amicus brief we filed in January. Although this is a significant victory for reproductive rights, we must never allow the extremist religious beliefs of a few—no matter how powerful they are—to violate the rights and wellbeing of the many. The brief that American Atheists jointly filed with the Freedom From Religion Foundation in the Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine case is available at https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-235/299224/20240130143859433_23-235-23-236%20-%20Amicus%20Brief.pdf.

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American Atheists Celebrates Restoration of Religious Freedom Protections for Recipients of Federally Funded Social Services

American Atheists — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 13:30:24 +0000

Washington, D.C. – Today, American Atheists praised the Biden Administration for its issuance of final rules restoring critical religious equality and civil rights protections for millions of Americans who receive government-funded social services. “The Biden administration has taken a vital step towards fulfilling its promise – and this nation’s promise – of equality under the law regardless of one’s religious or nonreligious beliefs,” said Alison Gill, Vice President of Legal and Policy at American Atheists. “I am pleased to see leaders in Washington re-prioritizing Americans in need, and protecting their constitutional rights over the interests of faith-based entities that receive millions of taxpayer dollars every year.” The final rules rescind and replace harmful Trump-era policies that undermined Americans’ constitutional rights and stripped away much-needed safeguards against religious-based discrimination. In 2021, American Atheists constituents submitted nearly 25,000 comments opposing the Trump administration’s changes, and the organization joined a broad coalition of civil rights and religious equality advocacy groups that filed suit to stop their implementation. Gill noted, “The previous administration’s rules not only undermined Americans’ constitutional rights but also made it unnecessarily burdensome for some of nation’s most vulnerable populations to access essential, taxpayer-funded programs and services – from shelters for the unhoused and survivors of domestic violence to food banks, job training, education programs, and elder care.” In 2023, American Atheists submitted comments in support of the regulations proposed by the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and offered amendments to further strengthen nondiscrimination protections for nonreligious Americans, writing, “American Atheists believes that government programs should be inclusive and accessible to people regardless of their religious beliefs or lack thereof.” Jointly issued by nine federal agencies, the final rules will require government-funded social service providers to inform beneficiaries of their legal rights to be free from religious-based discrimination and forced participation in prayer or other religious programming. “We are relieved and grateful the Biden administration has affirmed that religion is not a license to discriminate,” said Nick Fish, President of American Atheists. “Whether they are faith-based or not, any organization that receives taxpayer dollars should never be in the business of discriminating, denying care, or forcing Americans to participate in religious programming in order to access essential services to which they are entitled.” The final rules will take effect on April 3, 2024.

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American Atheists Wins in West Virginia Religious Coercion Lawsuit

American Atheists — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 14:55:09 +0000

Charleston, WV — American Atheists announced today a resounding victory in its federal lawsuit, in partnership with Mountain State Justice, against the leadership of the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (WVDCR) in April 2023 on behalf of Andrew Miller, an atheist and Secular Humanist who was forced to engage in religious activities as a condition of parole. “We’ve said it before, but no one should be forced to sacrifice their moral or religious beliefs in order to be released from incarceration,” said Lesley Nash, an attorney with Mountain State Justice, who served as local counsel in this case. “We’re pleased the Court acted to protect Andrew’s rights when WVDCR would not.” Mr. Miller was officially released under West Virginia’s Non-Violent Offender Parole Program in October. In addition, the WVDCR removed its requirement that participants attend religious 12-step meetings and removed religious components from its federally funded Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program (RSAT) handbook. The Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation also agreed to pay $80,000 in legal fees to Mountain State Justice and American Atheists. “This is, of course, a tremendous victory for Andrew, who is finally free, but also a complete vindication of his and other nonreligious Americans’ rights under the law,” said Geoffrey T. Blackwell, Litigation Counsel for American Atheists. “And yet, if the WVDCR had acted properly, Andrew may well have been released much sooner. Rather than cave to West Virginia’s unconstitutional religious coercion, he took a principled stand and fought to defend his First Amendment rights.” The lawsuit alleged, and the state did not dispute, that Mr. Miller’s conscientious refusal to complete the pervasively religious RSAT program was a significant contributing factor in the West Virginia Parole Board Panel’s decision to deny him parole on three occasions. In doing so, the WVDCR violated his constitutional rights as well as rights guaranteed by the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). In July of this year, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin issued a sweeping 60-page decision, denying dismissing West Virginia’s motion to dismiss the case, finding Mr. Miller’s claims to be “likely–if not inevitable” to succeed. The judge also issued a preliminary injunction requiring WVDCR officials to remove completion of the state’s RSAT Program from Mr. Miller’s parole eligibility requirements. Judge Goodwin wrote that the injunction “would do no more than require the defendants to fulfill their existing constitutional obligations” and highlighted the “undeniably religious nature of the program.” It included the mandatory recitation of Christian prayers during meetings and overtly religious content in the course material, which was primarily developed by Texas Christian University. Courts around the country have repeatedly reached the conclusion that 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are religious and cannot be forced on people by the government. The “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous includes a chapter that tells “atheists and agnostics they are ‘doomed to an alcohol death’ unless they ‘seek Him.’” The chapter goes on to deride the nonreligious as “handicapped by obstinacy, sensitiveness, and unreasoning prejudice.” Following his release, Mr. Miller said, “The harm inflicted by these programs is very real. I was, for a period of […]

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Fort Worth Atheists Launch Billboard Campaign. Lawsuit Continues.

American Atheists — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 21:06:33 +0000

Fort Worth, Texas—The North Texas atheist group Metroplex Atheists has launched a billboard campaign to promote their educational event, “Keep God Out of Our Public Schools.” On Sunday, District Judge Reed O’Connor denied them a preliminary injunction to post banners on downtown lampposts. Nonetheless, the billboard campaign, which will run until August 24, will help promote the August 26 event. In addition, the lawsuit will continue as planned. Metroplex Atheists is represented by American Atheists and local counsel Glast, Phillips & Murray with substantial assistance from the American Humanist Association. “This is a temporary setback. We will continue our lawsuit on behalf of all the atheists who have suffered discrimination—in Fort Worth, in Texas, and all throughout our country,” said Umair Khan, president of Metroplex Atheists. “We deserve the same rights and respect as all other groups, and that’s what this lawsuit has always been about.” “We’d like to thank the outpouring of support from the community,” he added. “This litigation is exposing discrimination, and in doing so, it will help move our city and state toward more equality and justice.” In a letter to the editor, Dallas resident Bonnie Canelakes called out officials for discriminating against atheists “who don’t choose to join or believe what the city thinks they should.” “The atheists are right on this one. Fort Worth got it wrong,” wrote the Dallas Morning News Editorial Board. “This is clearly a free speech issue,” agreed the Star-Telegram Editorial Board. “We think it would have been better to err on the side of more speech, not less.” “Atheists have a right to be heard. The sort of silencing and discrimination Fort Worth atheists experienced is not an isolated incident. We see it all the time,” said Geoffrey T. Blackwell, Litigation Counsel for American Atheists. “The discrimination atheists are subject to often goes unnoticed by our fellow citizens who are religious. This mistreatment impacts almost every part of daily life, be it within our families, in education, on the job, in the military, during substance abuse treatments, and especially at the hands of government officials.” In 2019, American Atheists conducted the U.S. Secular Survey, which canvassed nearly 34,000 nonreligious Americans. The resulting report, Reality Check: Being Nonreligious in America, found that anti-atheist stigma and discrimination were widespread in all areas of life. For example, 19.1% of participants reported negative experiences when accessing private businesses, such as the services provided by Downtown Fort Worth, Inc., which manages the city’s discriminatory program. In very religious communities, including many areas of Texas, this type of discrimination by private businesses was twice as prevalent than in less religious areas. “Treating all members of a community—whether atheist, LGBTQ, or another minority group—with dignity and respect improves society overall,” said Alison Gill, Vice President for Legal and Policy at American Atheists and a co-author of the report. “Unfortunately, Christian nationalist activists and lawmakers spend more time silencing those they disagree with and stigmatizing minority groups than caring about residents’ well-being. The fight continues. We refuse to let discrimination win out.” The dangers of Christian nationalism will be the focus of Metroplex Atheists’ August 26 event: […]

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WV Court Blocks Unconstitutional Prison Program Targeting Incarcerated Atheist

American Atheists — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 04:18:05 +0000

Charleston, WV — In a sweeping 60-page decision issued yesterday, a federal judge ruled in favor of Andrew Miller, an atheist and Secular Humanist, who has been forced to participate in religious substance abuse treatment activities as a condition for his parole. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph R. Goodwin issued a preliminary injunction requiring officials with the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation (WVDCR) to remove completion of the state’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) Program from Mr. Miller’s parole eligibility requirements. “This is a complete vindication of Andrew’s rights under the law,” said Geoffrey T. Blackwell, Litigation Counsel for American Atheists. “As Judge Goodwin said in his ruling, if Andrew had not stood up for his rights and instead allowed West Virginia to force this religious programming on him, it’s entirely possible he would already have been released. That’s not a choice anyone should have to make.” Miller has been interviewed three times by the West Virginia Parole Board Panel and was denied parole each time. The lawsuit alleges, and the state does not dispute, that his failure to complete the pervasively religious RSAT program contributed significantly to the Board’s decision to deny him parole. “Without Andrew’s willingness to take on this fight, West Virginia would continue to unconstitutionally impose religion on people in its corrections system,” added Blackwell. In the opinion granting the preliminary injunction, Judge Goodwin denied West Virginia’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, finding that all of Andrew’s claims were “likely—if not inevitable” to succeed on the merits. Goodwin highlighted the “undeniably religious nature of the program,” including pervasive religious content in the course material, mandatory prayers during meetings, and a chapter that “tells atheists and agnostics they are ‘doomed to an alcoholic death’ unless they ‘seek Him.’” In directing that WVDCR remove requirements that Andrew complete the RSAT program in order to be eligible for parole, Judge Goodwin found that the “injunction would do no more than require the defendants to fulfill their existing constitutional obligations.” “As we said when we filed this case, no one should be forced to set aside their moral or religious creed as a precondition of their parole,” said Lesley Nash, an attorney with Mountain State Justice, who is serving as local counsel in this case. “We’re pleased that the Court acted to protect Andrew’s rights when WVDCR has not.” American Atheists is promoting state-level legislation that would require criminal justice systems to inform defendants and those who are incarcerated of their right to access a secular recovery option as an alternative to religious programs like Alcoholics Anonymous or West Virginia’s RSAT. One bill has passed in New York and is on its way to Governor Hochul’s desk, and another has been introduced in Michigan. “It’s clear that religious coercion is an all-too-common issue in our nation’s criminal justice system,” said Nick Fish, president of American Atheists. “This is a step in the right direction, but it’s long overdue that we push for big, systemic changes to finally fix this. We shouldn’t have to file lawsuit after lawsuit to force the government to do the right thing: protecting the […]

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