Stories of America and Ourselves
"HISTORY IS NOT THE PAST. It is stories we tell about the past.” Those words were written by the late philosopher and feminist Grace Lee Boggs.1 This year’s celebration of our nation’s 250th birthday encourages... Read More
Beyond the Numbers: What LGBTQ+ Students Are Really Experiencing in Schools
IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, LGBTQ+ students are navigating something far more complex than assignments and attendance. They are navigating safety, identity, belonging and, increasingly, a political climate that shapes all three. The latest... Read More
Faith, Authority, and the Lure of Certainty Religious Mindsets and the Architecture of Authoritarianism
THE RISE OF THE NAZI PARTY did not emerge from a cultural vacuum. It was enabled by a psychological and social environment receptive to hierarchy, obedience, mythic identity and the moral elevation of the in-group.... Read More
When They Speak of Our Time
Speech delivered at the No Kings protest at the Lexington Common, MA, October 18, 2025. Good morning to all. My name is Regie Gibson and I am the Inaugural Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of... Read More
A History of Gendered Censorship and the Costs of Faith-Based ‘Porn’ Panics
What happens when a small group of politicians’ faith-fueled crusade for a preferred American culture collides with free speech rights, queer rights and visibility, and secular governance? A recent rash of anti-pornography proposals, like outright... Read More
By Conscience Alone
We are here today to present the American Humanist Association’s Humanist of the Year award to Jelani Cobb. The award was established in 1953 to recognize a person of national or international reputation who, through... Read More
Doing What’s Available: A Humanist’s Guide to Activism
It’s hard to capture the full force of our award recipient’s impact in just a few words, but if I had to try, I’d say “bold” and “unwavering.” She’s a member of the Nebraska Legislature,... Read More