ATHEISTS JOIN FORCES
Lobby group takes on Christian-based center
In recent years, the conservative Center for Arizona Policy has been one of the most successful lobbying organizations in state politics, winning passage of farreaching abortion restrictions and religion-focused bills.
But a growing atheist lobbying group is taking on the Christianbased center and its well-connected president, Cathi Herrod, and aims to create a higher profile at the Legislature next session.
Serah Blain, executive director of the Secular Coalition of Arizona, said the state is the first in the nation to have a full-time legislative lobbyist representing a “nontheistic” organization.
The lobbying group now represents 17 secular organizations, many of whom Blain said were motivated by their anger over recent legislation, including new laws limiting abortion and contraception coverage.
“They just really took things too far,” Blain said of Herrod and lawmakers. “A lot of people who under normal circumstances would not be working together have become interested in coalition work to stop their reign of terror.”
In addition to pushing back against Center for Arizona Policy bills, Blain hopes to promote two measures at the Legislature next session: an Oregon-style deathwith-dignity bill and a proposal to teach science-based sex education in public schools. Both bills have been introduced over the years but rarely have received hearings.
And she is working to organize non-religious people in communities around the state who may be unaware just how many of them are out there. During the fall, Blain held a series of “secular values” town halls to draw people into the