Friend:

One year ago this week, AU filed our first amicus brief opposing a request for a religious exemption to a public-health order limiting in-person gatherings because of the coronavirus pandemic. This week, we filed our 49th, in a California case, and yesterday a federal appeals court allowed the state’s restrictions on in-person worship to remain in place.

For some of us, myself included, this week we’re also celebrating Spring holidays for the second time since the pandemic forced us to stay home and radically changed the way we engage in our religious traditions. I know how hard it is for faith communities to go so long without coming together as a community, in person, to worship. And I know how hard it is still not to be able to celebrate the holidays with our larger families in person. But hope along with Spring is in the air, and dare I say that it’s looking like the day is soon coming when we can safely resume religious and secular traditions together.

Until then, AU will continue to fight efforts to jeopardize public safety and exempt houses of worship or religious schools from temporary rules that prohibit large gatherings or require mask-wearing. Religious freedom is not the freedom to risk other peoples’ lives.

Nor is religious freedom the right to force taxpayers to fund private religious schools that discriminate against students who are LGBTQ or turn away students with different religious beliefs. AU’s campaign to raise awareness of this growing threat hit its stride this week, and I’m happy to report that hundreds of thousands of people were reached by our digital ad highlighting the vulnerability of diverse public school students who are so often harmed by private religious schools.

There’s still time to take action against private school vouchers through our campaign website, if you haven’t already. Visit stopschoolvouchers.org to learn more. And if you’re joining me in any religious celebrations this week, I wish you a safe and joy-filled holiday!

In solidarity,