Friend,

It’s that time again.  Every four years our nation watches the two major political parties jockey for votes at their national conventions.  It is a bit of a different spectacle this election year; due to the pandemic, for the first time in history both conventions have been held in a mostly virtual setting.

However there is another first that occurred during the conventions that the secular community should be encouraged by.  For the first time in history, we were officially recognized and included in convention proceedings for a major political party.  The Democratic party’s platform includes direct input from the secular community and during the Democratic National Committee’s Interfaith Council meetings, humanists and secularists played a prominent role.

While both conventions were expectedly chock-full of mentions of faith and god, this is a marked change from the past, and represents a significant step forward for secularists across the nation.  To have a seat at the table is what we have been striving for on many levels, and it seems things are finally beginning to change for the better on that front.  That said, there is still much to be done to bring secularism into the mainstream and fully recognized. It is time for all secularists to unite under that shared goal.

Secularists come from all races, genders, age groups, and yes political affiliations, but we all want a seat at the table when it comes to our religious views or lack thereof, and the influence religion has in government.

While it is true that the majority of those who identify as a secularist also identify as a Democrat; there are many who identify as Libertarian, Republican, or Independent. As a former Republican staffer, who identifies as a Humanist / Secularist, I can confidently say that our shared goal of recognition binds us together in our fight for state and church separation. The result of our shared advocacy will be that of a louder, more influential voice on political matters that we all agree on, and greater discourse on those we do not (which are often not as far apart as we are led to believe).

So when you go to the polls this November to cast your ballot, remember that no matter which candidate you are voting for, as the secular community, we share a common goal that in many ways outweighs party affiliation.  So to quote a line from my favorite band (with my own slight variation), “Last night the plans for a future war were all I saw on Channel Four...Secularists of the world unite and take over!”

On another note, we here at the Secular Coalition for America continue to represent the secular community through direct interaction with our elected officials, and fight for our shared goals in Washington, D.C.  If you have the capacity during these difficult times, please click the “I want to help!” button below. Every dollar goes to fighting for our shared secular values and is greatly appreciated.  Also, you can check to see if your employer participates in a matching donation for non-profits program by clicking here.