Register for January 22, 7pm ET Zoom Webinar
(Will be recorded to share on AHA YouTube Channel)
In 2024, education programming will focus on humanity, environment, health, and economy. For the winter focus on humanity, we will be addressing issues that impact the transgender community, upholding respectful boundaries, and practicing compassion within our communities.
Issues impacting the transgender community have become a flashpoint in the 2024 election, with far right candidates campaigning and endorsing policies that are against gender-affirming care, the right of transgender folks to participate in sports, comprehensive education that’s inclusive of gender identity and sexuality, access to abortion for trans* and non-binary folks, and much more. According to the ACLUD, 506 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced in state legislatures in 2023 as of November. At an alarming rate, the House of Representatives is introducing bills harmful and dangerous to the transgender community, such as the Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for FY 2024. Section 534 of this bill will prohibit gender-affirming surgical procedures and hormone therapies, which would result in extensive damage if passed.
Sarah Ray, transgender activist and trek podcaster, will host Alison Gill, American Atheist Legal and Policy Vice President, and Kris Tassone, Policy Counsel for the National Center for Transgender Equality, on protecting transgender rights in 2024.
Sarah Ray (she/her) is a transgender woman who came to humanism out of the “angry atheist” phase upon seeing a need for secular communities to focus our energy into productive, positive impacts in our world. Sarah is an endorsed Humanist Celebrant and Vice President of The Humanist Society, and co-founded the Atheist Community of Polk County (now the Humanist Community of Polk County), She has produced and hosted several podcasts and Youtube shows since 2015, the “SarahTalk Podcast”, “Freethought in Florida”, and a season of the “Recovering from Religion” podcast. Her current podcast is Humanist Trek co-hosted with Allie Ashmead.
Kris Tasson (they/them) is Policy Counsel for the National Center for Transgender Equality, whose focus includes Justice, Violence & Policing portfolio, Global Issues, and other nondiscrimination work. Prior to working with NCTE, they completed fellowships at Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund, and the Human Rights Campaign. Kris is a graduate of The George Washington University Law School, and completed international programmes at the University of Oxford and the University of the Western Cape. They are a member of the District of Columbia Bar.
Alison Gill (she/her) is American Atheists’ Vice President for Legal & Policy, managing the organization’s federal and state advocacy for religious equality and litigation activities to protect the separation of religion and government. Alison is a nationally recognized expert on civil rights law and state advocacy. She directs American Atheists’ legal and legislative advocacy strategy and represents American Atheists in Washington DC.