Freethought in Florida

Sarah & Allie discuss news of the week(ish).  From a serious toxic leak in Tampa Bay to the Chauvin trial in the murder of George Floyd, we connect the dots and probably make you angry.  That's OK, we're angry, too.

• Winding down the Parents Bill of Rights and Moment of Silence Bills
• Reservoir leak in Manatee County
• Chauvin Trial
• FL HB1: The Anti-Protest Bill
• Disability Abortion Bill
• #GaetzGate

Devon Graham, Allie Ashmead and Sarah Ray shoot the bull before the kickoff of the American Atheists 2021 Convention! You can still join us @ convention.atheists.org

A flurry of bills with serious impact to the GSRM community are once again making their way through the Florida Legislature. Jon Harris Maurer, Public Policy Director with Equality Florida is on the ground in Tallahassee working to raise awareness and affect change.

Equality Florida - https://www.eqfl.org/

Monica Miller, Legal Director and Senior Counsel with American Humanist Association joins to discuss a recent SCOTUS case that brought AHA together with Alliance Defending Freedom over issues of campus free speech and religious expression.  We'll also talk about other cases and legislation in Florida and beyond.

• American Humanist Association 
• Religious Rivals Unite in Celebration Over Today's Supreme Court First Amendment Ruling
• AHA Amicus Briefs
• SCOTUS Docket
• SCOTUS Opinion

FL Bills:

• Postsecondary Ed: intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity
  • SB 264 c1 Bill Text // HB 233 c1 Bill Text
• Opening Remarks at High School Athletic Events
  • SB 880 Bill Text // HB 1027 Bill Text
  • News4Jax: Florida Bill Could Clear Way for Pre-Game Prayers
  • Cambridge Christian School v. Florida High School Athletic Assoc.
• Moment of Silence in Public Schools
  • SB 282 Bill Text // HB 529 Bill Text
  • AHA: Humanists Halt Indoctrination of Kindergarteners in Texas Public School

Secular Week of Action

• Make an Impact! Secular Week of Action Webinar
• SWofA - Craftathon - Get involved and/or Donate here

Dusty Hoesly, PhD and Postdoctoral Research at the University of California, Santa Barbara, discusses the Secular Communities Survey.

Take the survey at http://www.secularcommunities.com by April 11th.

Then, Devon and Sarah discuss hijinks going on in the Florida Legislature.

JR Becker, Best Selling Author of the Annabelle & Aiden series of children's books joins us for a chat about writing science & skepticism books for kids and kick off his next book, "Oh My Gods! A History of Belief" - A stunning children's book on the history of our beliefs and gods, and what they say about us.

Kickstart the new book!

OhMyGodsTheBook.com

AnnabelleAndAiden.com

Then, Devon Graham and Sarah Ray discuss movement in the bowels of the Florida Legislature and break down a recent committee hearing for a bill that would mandate every public school to enforce a 1-2 minute moment of silence at the beginning of each school day.

Juror 13: She's not guilty! The "Holy Spirit" told me.

Florida Spring water bottling to expand after permit approval

Moment of Silence Bill Advances; Fox 35 Orlando Coverage

Sen. Dennis Baxley bill would mandate moment of silence in Florida schools

Georgia Bill Would Replace Moment of Silence with Specific Christian Prayer in Public Schools

ACPC Director Becca Ray participates with Foundation Beyond Belief panel on humanist response to covid-19

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Freethought in Florida is a production of the Atheist Community of Polk County, Inc. (ACPC) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The opinions and views expressed on this program are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent the ACPC. Learn more or donate at http://www.polkatheists.org

Dale McGowan joins Sarah Ray and Devon Graham for a conversation about secular parenting in a still highly-religious world.  We talk about parenting during difficult world events and take viewer questions.

Dale's Links 

Dale's Website:  https://dalemcgowan.com/ How Music Does That Podcast:  https://www.spreaker.com/show/how-music-does-that Raising Freethinkers Podcast:  https://www.spreaker.com/show/raising-freethinkers

Our guest this week is Bryce Blankenagel, host of the Naked Mormonism and Glass Box podcasts.

Bryce Blankenagel Introduction - Naked Mormonism - Glass Box Podcast Mormon Missions Designed to Fail? Mormons and the Boy Scouts - Church Divorcing from BSA - BSA Files for Bankruptcy over Sex Abuse Claims - History of Abuse in Scounting LDS Youth & Worthiness Interviews - Sam Young, Protect Every Child - Sam Excommunicated by LDS Church - Mormon Missionary Guide for Social Media - 29 Questions Mormon Children are Asked Teen Pregnancy Prevention Alliance Faith Leaders Forum - What role should faith/religion/the church play in educating our kids about sex? - Religious control of sexuality damaging adult relationships

More Links: Satanic Temple Live Event

--- Freethought in Florida is a production of the Atheist Community of Polk County, Inc. (ACPC) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The opinions and views expressed on this program are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent the ACPC. Learn more or donate at http://www.polkatheists.org

Sarah Ray and Allie Ashmead highlight two Black freethinkers with a Florida connection: Zora Neale Hurston and Butterfly McQueen. Then a quick roundup of some of the week's news.

- Allie's Story - Zora Neale Hurston - Butterfly McQueen - Devon Graham's Secular Invocation before the Tallahassee Board of City Commissioners - FL Bill permitting high school pre-game prayers - FL Resolution seeking to limit $15/hr for certain people - Biden and the National Prayer Breakfast - Roy Speckhardt stepping down from American Humanist Association encourages a Black or Brown humanist replacement

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Freethought in Florida is a production of the Atheist Community of Polk County, Inc. (ACPC) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The opinions and views expressed on this program are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily represent the ACPC. Learn more or donate at http://www.polkatheists.org