FFRF chapter updates
Ozarks Chapter
The Ozarks Chapter of FFRF is headquartered in Northwest Arkansas, and serves the secular community in the Greater Ozarks region. As we wrap up 2024, our group reflects on all that was accomplished and give recognition to those who participated. During the year, our group:
• Volunteered at the NWA Women’s Shelter and Elizabeth Richardson Center in Rogers.
• Twice picked up trash along a one-mile stretch of AR-12 as part of the Arkansas Adopt-A-Highway program for nonprofits.
• Conducted 14 tabling events at the Bentonville and Fayetteville Farmers Markets from April through October.
• Sponsored an FFRF billboard along Interstate 49 during the month of April.
• Participated in Pride Events in Fort Smith and Fayetteville.
• Hosted a Summer Speaker series, which included Matthew D. Taylor (Protestant scholar at the Institute for Islamic, Christian & Jewish Studies), Christopher Line (staff attorney with FFRF) and Seth Andrews (author, activist and host of “The Thinking Atheist”).
• Held our third Annual Constitution Day Event on Sept. 17.
• Represented the Ozarks Chapter of FFRF at the 47th Annual FFRF National Convention in Denver.
• Created an official Ozarks Chapter of FFRF logo and began selling merchandise.
The chapter would like to recognize and thank several people who have volunteered their time to this cause, including James Brazeal, LaDonna Powell, Ryan Bradburn, Sarah Nickerson, George & Gail Naidl, Chip Ballew, Juli Odum, Phil Monroe, Bill and Linda Farrell, Linda Laue and all of the other individuals who have given so much to our nascent organization.
For more information on the Ozarks Chapter of FFRF, contact OzarksFFRF@gmail.com.
Grand Rapids Area Freethinkers
Grand Rapids (Minn.) Area Freethinkers members sold T-shirts and secular books and gave away a variety of FFRF merchandise at the Itasca Pride Fest. It was announced that 800 individuals were predicted to attend, but 2,000 people showed up! A few protesters also attended, but were kept under the watchful eye of an amazing security team.
The day ended with an interfaith service at a community church, with speakers invited from Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian, pagan and atheist points of view. Chapter President Julie Legg presented “Frequently Asked Questions About Atheists,” which was very well received. The group agreed that the whole day was a warm and welcoming experience for everyone.
For more information about the Grand Rapids Area Freethinkers Chapter of FFRF, contact Chapter President Juile Legg at jnlegg@gmail.com.
East Tennessee Chapter
The FFRF East Tennessee Chapter (FFRF-ETC) focuses on state/church separation issues which are numerous and egregious in Tennessee. Therefore, FFRF-ETC receives a large number of violations, mostly through its Facebook page, which the chapter reviews and forwards to the attorneys at FFRF in Madison, Wis. If action can be taken, Tennessee is a state that requires open records requests to be made by a resident of Tennessee, so a representative from our chapter willingly fills that role.
Annually, FFRF-ETC holds a National Day of Reason event opposite a Day of Prayer event. The chapter is thrilled to report that despite extensive PR and offering a wide array of entertainment, the Day of Prayer event had only a handful of attendees. FFRF-ETC also tables at local pride events, where the pins stating “Keep Your Theology Off My Biology” are a continuing hit.
FFRF-ETC also keeps the statue of Clarence Darrow at the Rhea County Courthouse cleaned and waxed. This year, FFRF-ETC added lighting fixtures to illuminate the statue in preparation for the centennial of the Scopes trial in 2025. The group is coordinating with the Rhea County Historical Society, which is installing identical lighting for the William Jennings Bryan statue.
For more information about the East Tennessee Chapter of FFRF, contact Chapter President Aleta Ledendecker at info@ffrf-etc.org.
Central Florida Freethought Community
On March 14–16, 2025, the Central Florida Freethought Community again will be hosting FREEFLO — the Freethought Florida Conference — the Southeast’s premiere freethought event in the Orlando area.
The event, to be held at the Hilton Altamonte Springs, begins with a lively costume party the first night. Immerse yourself the next two days in engaging presentations on science, public policy, philosophy, social justice, and the vital separation between religion and government.
Saturday night features an optional banquet dinner packed with comedy and pub-style trivia. For more information on this event, visit www.FREEFLO.org.
Triangle Freethought Society (N.C)
In September, the Triangle Freethought Society put on two screenings of the documentary “Bad Faith,” which outlines the ways in which Christian nationalist leaders have managed to take power over the last few decades. These screenings were in collaboration with the Nontheist Group at the Eno River UU Fellowship and Americans United for Separation of Church and State. We had over 350 attendees across the two screenings, and held a Q&A discussion after each, with knowledgeable speakers to help contextualize the documentary and motivate the attendees to get out and fight against Christian nationalism.
For more information about the Triangle Freethought Society, visit trianglefreethought.org.
Valley of the Sun Chapter (Ariz.)
FFRF’s Valley of the Sun Chapter recently hosted a powerful and engaging panel discussion, “Beyond the Vote: The Power of LGBTQ-plus Civic Engagement,” at The Rock in Phoenix. The event, a collaboration with Melrose Toastmasters, Arizona’s first LGBTQ-plus and friends Toastmasters Club, explored the intersection of secularism and LGBTQ-plus advocacy and how these movements can work together to advance equality and rational public policy.
The panel was moderated by FFRF Valley of the Sun Chapter President Mars de La Tour and featured:
Jeanne Casteen, executive director of Secular AZ, who spoke about the importance of protecting the separation of church and state in local government.
Joseph Darius Jaafari, editor-in-chief and founder of LOOKOUT, highlighting the role of media in shaping public opinion and activism.
Mathew Nevarez, governing board member of the Alhambra Elementary School District, who inspired attendees with his journey as an BIPOC LGBTQ-plus leader in public education.
Cardinal Father Maury Nye D’Angelo of the Grand Canyon Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who brought a creative and compassionate lens to community-building and activism.
The panel focused on grassroots volunteerism, coalition-building and empowering individuals to advocate for lasting social change. Mars underscored the vital role collaboration plays in amplifying shared goals, such as equality and rational policymaking, and in challenging the religious influence in public life. Through events like this, the Valley of the Sun Chapter is expanding its reach and demonstrating how secularism and LGBTQ-plus advocacy can work hand-in-hand to create a fairer, more inclusive society. To learn more about the FFRF Valley of the Sun Chapter, and to join, contact Mars de La Tour (they/them) at info@ffrfvs.org or visit ffrfvs.org.
San Francisco Bay Chapter
On many weekends this year, the San Francisco Bay Chapter tabled at farmers markets in Temescal, Sunnyvale and Palo Alto. The chapter has found that engaging with local communities has been rewarding, energizing and occasionally cathartic.
On the Sunday after the election, the chapter’s table had 50 visitors, not counting a few “amens” from a distance, lots of thumbs up, and some who just waved. As anticipated, many were shell-shocked. Those that spoke with us and took materials ranged from the curious to upset/disturbed about the election results and wanting to connect and vent a bit. Two different visitors wondered why we had materials about religion and reproductive rights. Several people asked for examples of what would constitute a church/state separation violation.
In previous weeks, the chapter met a few FFRF members who were not aware there was a local chapter. Some visitors were ecstatic to learn of our existence. Others were supportive and shared various tales while gathering some info about FFRF. One couple’s story about leaving the Jehovah’s Witnesses was intense, inspiring and heart-wrenching. Two enthusiastic young women were thrilled that we stood with the Satanic Temple on many legal cases. (And it’s a real treat when we get to hear ex-priest and longtime FFRF member, Dick Hewetson, discuss the bible with a market-goer.)
For more information about the San Francisco Bay Chapter of FFRF, contact info@sfbayffrf.org.
Metro Denver Chapter
The FFRF Metro Denver chapter started hosting monthly pub social gatherings in September. The pub social gatherings have turned out to be a big hit among members and newcomers. The chapter’s first event had 11 attendees and November’s post-election gathering had 22! Everyone was excited to have a chance to come together and share stories, emotions and ideas for other events/activism. The chapter’s calendar of events is posted on Meetup and social media.
To learn more about the FFRF Metro Denver chapter, contact Chapter President Claudette St. Pierre at ffrfdenver@gmail.com or visit ffrfdenver.org.
Upstate N.Y. Freethinkers
On Nov. 12, and for the second time this year, Maggie Symington addressed the Legislature in Monroe County, N.Y., to request that the practice of prayer at the beginning of such meetings be abolished. Symington’s first address took place on Aug. 13. A group of Upstate New York Freethinkers attended in support, which included Linda Stephens, who was the atheist plaintiff in the Supreme Court case Town of Greece v. Galloway.
Symington pointed out that Monroe County’s policy on prayer-givers unfairly limits invocations to only “ordained ministers with congregations,” and gave examples of the county’s nonconformity to its own rule. She implored the Legislature to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on a new process, but instead to abandon the practice altogether. Additionally, ministers are personally selected by individual legislators, which gives the appearance of a corrupt system of patronage and quid pro quo.
In her address, Symington had pointed out that, in spite of the Supreme Court requirement that the opening prayer be representative of diverse religious views, the vast majority of the prayers have been conducted by Christian ministers. The appearance of collusion between county elected officials and Christianity seems to be in direct opposition to the county’s own nondiscrimination policies, leaving an impression that both secular citizens and those outside the preferred religion have no voice in county government, and are perhaps unsafe in the meeting space.
While the county Legislature has made no response to the requests, Symington intends to keep exercising her constitutional rights and speaking at the public forums.
Upstate New York Freethinkers stands on the shoulders of participants like Linda Stephens and Maggie Symington, and the chapter seeks more leaders to organize for a brighter, secular future.
To learn more, or to join or donate, go to unyft.org, email info@unyft.org or phone/text (585) 454-9921.
