Secular Coalition for AmericaMission and Purpose

Our mission is to increase the visibility and respect for nontheistic viewpoints in the United States, and to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.

Our purpose is to advocate on behalf of nontheistic and secular Americans.

The Secular Coalition for America was founded in 2002

2

Who We Represent52.8% of Americans think political leaders

should NOT rely on religious beliefs when making decisions.

Source: ABC News/Washington Post poll, April 2005 and the Association of Religion Data Archives3

Who We RepresentAmericans with no religious affiliation,

“Nones” represent 16.1% of all Americans

4 Source: U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life, February 2008

SCA Organizational StructureBoard of

Directors One representative from each member

organization

Board OfficersNon-voting members of the Board of Directors

Executive Director

SCA Staff

State Chapters

Endorsing Organizati

onsAllied

Organizations and

Coalitions

Advisory Board

5

Secular Coalition for AmericaMember Organizations

6

Secular Coalition for AmericaEndorsing Organizations

Anti-Discrimination Support Network Arizona Coalition of Reason (ArizonaCoR), Association of Humanistic Rabbis Ask an Atheist Atheist Nexus Brights Action SCA, Center for Atheism, Center for Naturalism Congress of Secular Jewish Organizations, EARTHWARD Foundation Beyond Belief Freethought Action Hispanic American Freethinkers Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard, Humanist Institute Humanist Society Humanists of Florida

TheInfidels.org Internet Infidels LGBT Humanist Council of AHA Mission of Reason, Mr. Deity National Atheist Party OABITAR Path of Reason Project Reason Rational Response Squad The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason

and Science Secular Nations, South Carolina Progressive Network Stiefel Freethought Foundation Unitarian Universalist Infidels United Coalition of Reason Washington Area Secular Humanists (WASH)

The following organization extend their support by endorsing the mission of the Secular Coalition for America:

7

Secular Coalition for AmericaAllies

The Secular Coalition for America is building the coalition by adding Allied Organizations who may not be able to support the entire mission of the SCA, but share our position on particular issues.

8

SCA Coalitions

CARD - Coalition Against Religious Discrimination

NCPE - National Coalition for Public EducationSIECUS - Sexual Inform and Education

Council of the United StatesNational Advisory BoardIFPC - International Family Planning CoalitionLCCR - Leadership Council on Civil and

Human RightsCoalition for Liberty and Justice

9

Subject Areas of our Key Issues

Heath & Safety EducationMilitaryTax PolicyDiscriminationGovernment ActionsInternational

10

Health & Safety Issues

Medical Professionals Denying Care Based on Personal Beliefs

Religious Employers Denying Healthcare Coverage Based on Personal Beliefs

Religiously Based Child Abuse and NeglectReligiously Based Substance Abuse TreatmentReligiously Based Healthcare Policy

11

EducationPublic Funding of

Religious SchoolsSchools Discriminate

Against Nontheistic Students

Religious Influence on Public School Curriculum

Religious Coercion of Public School Students

12

Military

Military Chaplains Do Not Equally Represent or Support All Service Members

13

MilitaryMilitary Promotion of ReligionMilitary Discrimination Against Nontheists

14

Tax PolicyTax Free Housing for ClergyFaith-Based Nonprofits Exempt from Nonprofit

Requirements

Source: How Secular Humanists (and Everyone Else) Subsidize Religion in the United States; Ryan Cragun, Stephanie Yeager, and Desmond Vega; Free Inquiry Magazine, May 2012 15

Discrimination

Religiously Motivated Employment Discrimination

Housing Discrimination by Religious Landlords

16

Government ActionsNational Ceremonies and Symbols Endorsing

ReligionGovernment Officials Endorsing ReligionReligious Definition of Civil MarriageTaxpayer Money Furthering Religious BeliefsReligiously Based Policy

17

International

18

Religiously Based International Policy

U.S. Aid to Countries That Limit Religious Freedom

State ChaptersCurrent affiliatesPhase One: Starting the first week of June

19

State Chapters

A Secular Coalition for America state chapter is unlike any other nontheistic state organization—it brings together interested organizations and individuals for the exclusive purpose of lobbying government officials.

State Conference Calls

20

Religious Motivated Federal Action that Particularly Harms Women

Adams Amendment to the Violence Against Women Act

Trafficking Victims Protection ActReligious Exemption to the Contraception

Mandate

21

Contraception Mandate Background

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires that health insurance provide for certain preventive health services for women.

Research by the independent Institute of Medicine recommended these preventative health services include all FDA approved contraceptive methods.

The Department of Health and Human Services issued a regulation mandating health insurance issuers provide for cost-free contraceptive coverage in their plans.

22

Support for the Contraception Mandate

Contraceptives have medical benefits for women for whom pregnancy is a health risk.

There are demonstrated preventative health benefits from contraceptives relating to many conditions other than pregnancy.

There are significant cost savings to employers from the coverage of contraceptives.

The unique health needs of women place them at a disadvantage in the workforce compared to their male coworkers.

28 states now have laws requiring health insurance issuers to cover contraceptives.

23

“Religious Employer” Exemption

“Religious employers” were granted an exemption and are not required to cover contraceptive services.

A “religious employer” is an organization whose purpose is the inculcation of religious values, it primarily employs people of the same faith, it primarily serves people of the same faith, and it is a nonprofit.

24

Non Religious Employers Claim Violation of their “Religious Freedom”

Religious groups claim the mandate violates their “religious freedom”

A broader exemption actually violates the religious freedom of employees

The current religious employer exemption already accommodates religion, exemption expansion becomes endorsement.

25

Lobbying In Support of the Contraception Mandate

Educate: Clearly state that restrictions of health care options based on religious dogma is “discrimination”

Influence: Ask for NO votes on legislation and regulations that give anyone except the individual the right to choose what health care options are available

Share: Share your stories about why having health care choices are important and why allowing someone else’s religion to decide your health care options is wrong

26

Religiously Motivated State Legislation that Particularly Harms Women

6 states have laws that allow pharmacists to refuse to fill an emergency prescription for contraceptives.

21 states offer exemptions from contraceptive coverage for employers with varying degrees of religious affiliation

Only 18 states require sex education curricula to be medically accurate

27

Informational ResourcesNational Secular

Movement Update CallEvery Thursday at Noon559-726-1300 Code:

199568

BlogFacebook TwitterAction AlertsCalendarWebsite

Facebook.com/SecularCoalition

@SecularDotOrg

28

29

Speaker InformationEdwina Rogers

Executive DirectorSecular Coalition for America

1012 14th St., NW, Suite 205Washington, DC 20005

Office (202) 299 1091 ext. 207Mobile (202) 674 7800

Edwina@secular.orgwww.secular.org

30