New 'Safe Zones' Drive Signals Growing Push for Secular Inclusion

[cbayer]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-krattenmaker/new-safe-zones-drive-sign_b_3997559.html

Tom Krattenmaker
Author, 'The Evangelicals You Don't Know'

Posted: 09/27/2013 3:38 pm

New on the high school and college landscape as the academic year begins: "safe zones" for non-religious students who are fed up with going along to get along with the religiosity that prevails on many campuses, and with the harassment that sometimes awaits those who reveal their secular stripes.

By enlisting adults to stand up for these students and provide them refuge, the Secular Student Alliance--the organization behind the safe-zones project--is taking a page out of the gay-rights playbook and striving to make life more bearable for non-religious students who encounter hostility.

Consider the safe zones project one thrust among many in what is becoming a big new front in the on-going struggle by minority groups for full inclusion in American life. Atheists and other secular Americans are coming out of closets and demanding fair treatment and respect.

As they have every right to expect.

more at link

[JimboBillyBubbaBob]

1. This is such an interesting idea,

I'll follow as it plays out.

[Bluenorthwest]

2. On DU, GD is an alleged 'safe zone' that is supposed to be free of religious materials but that

rule is constantly disrespected by the religious who regularly post lavish promotions of various bigots such as Pope Francis, always tying in gay issues, so their posts are like brandished weapons. 'He's so super pro gay, I LOVE him!!!!' they say in GD about a man who is a political activist opposed to equality for gay people.
The religious feel they have the right to go anywhere and demand that their own views be hailed and honored. I see those GD posts as intentional aggression against gay and secular people by self important religious folks.
Thanks for listening.

[cbayer]

3. Actually, there are "activists" from both sides that post religious material in GD.

Early on in DU, I tried to make the case to be stricter about religious posts in GD, but the GD hosts feel differently and tend to leave anything that might have a tie in to current events.

But I think there are as many negative stories about religion as there are positive ones in GD.

And even the pro-pope ones get plenty of negative responses.

[skepticscott]

5. Of course, everything has to be equal

Doesn't it?

And it's pretty sad when supposedly "liberal" and "progressive" believers need all of those negative responses to remind them what a sexist, homophobic man they are fawning over with their pope-boosting posts.

[rug]

6. Naturally, you can provide links, can't you?

[pinto]

7. Hi,

I think the relationship of religion with the GLBT communities is news and OK in the General Discussion forum. As you say, "a political activist opposed to equality for gay people." That seems worth discussion in the larger forums. GD is a forum to discuss political activism, whatever the source or framework.

[msongs]

4. good to have a place safe from the relentless jesus-nut predators on school campuses nt