For the first time, a woman and non-Christian will lead this group...

[yallerdawg]

that thinks government is too involved in religion

Source: Washington Post, by Michelle Boorstein

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Rachel Laser, a lawyer and longtime advocate on issues related to reproductive freedom, LGBT equality and racism, is the new executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. She is the first woman and, as a Jew, the first non-Christian to lead the 71-year-old group.

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Laser (rhymes with JAZZ-er) also has experience building bridges. For five years the University of Chicago Law School graduate worked for Third Way, a progressive think tank aimed at finding common ground with evangelical Christians, in particular on issues such as reproductive health, gay equality and torture. She worked with Trump adviser Sam Rodriguez and Florida megachurch pastor Joel Hunter (who pastored President Barack Obama) on a measure that supported both contraception access and sexual health education (sometimes seen as more liberal causes) as well as help for pregnant mothers and new parents (sometimes seen as causes of abortion opponents).

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In the past couple of years, Laser has worked on curriculum and consulting related to racism and white privilege. She hopes that African Americans will be among the communities she can inspire to be more active in protecting separation.

Her goal: rebrand the fight for the separation of religion and government “so we can win big like we did with marriage equality.”

What would “winning big” mean on this complex issue?

Laser pauses. “It means freedom of religion will be about a diverse, vibrant country, and not a monolithic, culturally favored religion in this country.”


Read it all at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/02/21/for-the-first-time-a-woman-and-non-christian-will-lead-this-group-that-thinks-government-is-too-involved-in-religion/

[MineralMan]

1. Well, best wishes to her.

I prefer the Freedom from Religion Foundation, personally.

https://ffrf.org/

It's about not letting religious organizations control everything. I'm for that. Their legal actions have made great strides and they need our support.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. AU is a great organization

Laser has an impressive background. I hope AU grows even stronger under her leadership.