Diversity Rules Magazine

12|Diversity Rules Magazine | Sept 2022 On August 17th, the civil rights organiza on American Atheists announced a successful se lement against an - LGBTQ lawmaker Jason Rapert. The Arkansas state sena- tor discriminated against his atheist cons tuents and vio- lated their freedom of speech. Rapert has a long history of an -LGBTQ ac ons and state- ments. In 2016, he labeled homosexual ac vists "fas- cists." In 2017, Rapert filed a bill to amend the Cons tu- on and limit marriage to only heterosexual couples. In 2019, he claimed, "A false god to homosexuality has been erected in our na on and we are being forced down or pay a price." This month, Rapert tweeted, "I'm raising my voice to say that marriage is between one man and one woman…I oppose the radical LGBTQ agenda." As part of the se lement agreement, the state of Arkan- sas, on behalf of Rapert, will pay American Atheists more than $16,000, and he will immediately unblock his athe- ist cons tuents from his official social media accounts, restoring their ability to communicate directly with the state senator and fellow cons tuents. In addi on, if he decides to block the plain ffs while s ll in office, he will be required to provide American Atheists with wri en documenta on showing possible wrongdoing. "This is a victory for freedom of speech and equality," said Geoffrey T. Blackwell, Li ga on Counsel for Ameri- can Atheists. "Let Jason Rapert be an example to all the Chris an na onalist lawmakers and would-be theocrats in our country. If you spread hate and then try to escape accountability, you will face the consequences." "Time and me again, Jason Rapert called our lawsuit 'frivolous' and claimed he would 'never bow down,'" said Nick Fish, president of American Atheists. "The only things that were 'frivolous' were Rapert's legal arguments. He repeatedly lost to us in court and was going to lose this case. We're glad he finally saw the wri ng on the wall and chose to change course, unblock our clients, and se le." The an -LGBTQ organiza on Senator Rapert leads, the Na onal Associa on of Chris an Lawmakers, has mem- ber lawmakers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. It has spread harmful model bills across the country, including legisla on analogous to Texas Senate Bill 8, the vigilante abor on ban. In Arkansas, Rapert sponsored a law requiring a Ten Com- mandments monument outside the State Capitol, helped force "In God We Trust" displays into every classroom to indoctrinate children, and introduced an outright abor- on ban without excep ons for rape, and incest, or even the health of the mother. And last month, he called for a bill that would ban Arkan- sans from crossing state lines to get abor on care. The legisla on is so extreme that Governor Asa Hutchinson, who signed Rapert's complete abor on ban into law, op- poses it. "We encourage atheists—and all Americans—to speak out against Jason Rapert's and all Chris an na onalists' hateful a acks on LGBTQ rights, reproduc ve rights, and religious freedom, and we will con nue to defend their right to do so," said Fish. "Chris an na onalism is an ex- isten al threat to our democracy and the future of our country. Chris an na onalists—who are invariably an - LGBTQ—are not above the law. Our victory today proves it." Addi onal statements: "By barring Arkansas cri cs from his official social media accounts, Senator Rapert created an echo chamber of self-agreeing ci zens. This is not the American way. Exposing ourselves to other points of view creates an opportunity for learning and acceptance," said Karen Dempsey, one of the named Arkansas plain ffs. "Returning to the public forum will allow me to hear what others think and to share my thoughts. I am grateful to American Atheists for taking on this case and prevailing in the face of injus ce." —named Arkansas plain ff Karen Dempsey "An Arkansas legislator with a public forum should listen and respond to the concerns of all Arkansans, not just the concerns of supporters. True leadership would encompass common sense policies to improve the lives of Arkansans, not spend tax dollars pu ng on drama c performances using an quated ideals and stale rhetoric. I would like to thank the American Atheists legal team and local Arkan- sas a orneys for their inspiring hard work and dedica on to this cause. —named Arkansas plain ff Catherine Sho- shone "This outcome once again confirms that the Cons tu on means what it says. No one—not even the privileged elite who allegedly revere the First Amendment—can trample the rights of others. But the promise of the Cons tu on cannot be fulfilled without church-state separa on organi- za ons like American Atheists and the pro bono service of other lawyers willing to invest their me in the pursuit of jus ce." —Li le Rock-based a orney Ab n Mehdizadegan, who assisted American Atheists as pro bono local counsel in the case American Atheists is a na onal 501(c)(3) nonprofit organi- za on that defends the rights of atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; advocates for the absolute separa on of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy. American Atheists was founded in 1963 by Madalyn Murray O'Hair. Atheists Win Settlement American Atheists announce settlement against anti-LGBTQ lawmaker Jason Rapert

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