Massachusetts Archives - American Atheists

Support Death with Dignity in Massachusetts

American Atheists — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 18:44:37 +0000

For the first time ever, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health has passed H.1926/S.1208, an important bill that will allow terminally ill people to receive compassionate medical aid-in-dying. Now is our chance to pass this law and ensure that Massachusetts joins Vermont, Maine, Washington D.C., New Jersey, and 6 other states that already offer these end-of-life options. This measure would create a patient-driven system that honors the values and beliefs of the individual, allowing terminally ill people to die in the comfort of their homes without receiving unwanted medical care. Unfortunately, religious groups, including the Catholic Church, vigorously oppose this common-sense legislation. Please tell lawmakers in Massachusetts to stand strong and to pass this important bill into law! Although approximately 80% of Americans desire to pass away in the comfort of their own home, less than 20% actually do so. We need your help to pass this important legislation to allow terminally ill people in Massachusetts to die with dignity, in peace. Please take action by emailing your state senator and representative today!

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Atheists: Ban Female Genital Mutilation in Massachusetts

American Atheists — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 19:55:11 +0000

Boston, MA—Today, American Atheists, on behalf of its more than 1,000 constituents in MA, wrote in support of H3332/S834. This comprehensive bill would protect women and girls in Massachusetts from the harmful practices known as female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM consists in ritually cutting or altering the female genitalia for non-medical purposes. Religious communities predominately force this unethical pseudo-treatment upon young females—with non-licensed practitioners performing the work. Despite the religious significance of this tradition, it has no medical necessity or benefit. Instead, FGM frequently results in serious injury and medical complications to the victim. Beyond the devastating physical consequences, FGM can result in significant psychological harm. Massachusetts is one of just 15 states that does not prohibit FGM. In MA alone, nearly 14,221 women and girls are at risk for FGM. “Massachusetts has a duty to protect its residents from these dangerous practices regardless of tradition. This sort of religiously inspired and brutal misogyny has no place in our society,” wrote Alison Gill, American Atheists’ Vice President for Legal and Policy, who submitted the testimony. Read the full testimony here:

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Atheists: Protect Massachusetts Children from Forced Child Marriage

American Atheists — Fri, 06 Sep 2019 21:08:52 +0000

Boston, MA—Today, American Atheists, writing on behalf of its over 1,000 constituents in Massachusetts, demanded an end to forced child marriage. After the State Senate voted unanimously to ban child marriage, the Joint Committee on the Judiciary is considering a version of this bill. “This life-saving bill would prevent young people in Massachusetts from being coerced into marriage against their will,” wrote Alison Gill, American Atheists’ Vice President for Legal and Policy. “We urge you to swiftly pass this important legislation.” The U.S. State Department has called marriage before 18 a “human rights abuse.” An estimated 1,200 minors were married in Massachusetts between 2000 and 2016, the majority of which were girls marrying men. Currently, Massachusetts law has loopholes that permit young people under the age of 18 to marry with parental consent and judicial approval. Unfortunately, a requirement of parental “consent” hardly mitigates the danger of forced child marriage because when a child is forced to marry, the perpetrators are almost always the parents. There will always be parental “consent” when there is parental coercion in the first place. Therefore, Massachusetts law currently contains no effective procedural safeguard against the danger of forced child marriage. “Child marriage robs young people of the right to choose their own path in life,” wrote Gill. “By adopting H. 1478, Massachusetts would effectively eliminate existing loopholes and join states such as New Jersey and Delaware, which have taken proactive steps to end child marriage. We urge you to swiftly pass this important legislation to protect young people in Massachusetts.”

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End Forced Child Marriage in Massachusetts

American Atheists — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 16:53:08 +0000

The Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary is considering H1478, a life-saving bill that would prevent forced child marriage by prohibiting marriage of individuals under the age of 18. This legislation is important because, too often, marriages occur in religious sects where very young girls are forced to marry men much older than them. Child marriage remains a widespread problem in the United States. Between 2000 and 2010, more than 167,000 children as young as age 12 have been forced to marry in 38 states. Current Massachusetts law states a minimum marriage of 18, but allows children that are younger than 18 years old to marry with custodial parent or guardian consent, and judicial approval. No statutory minimum-age exists for these exceptions. The U.S. State Department has called forced marriage before age 18 a “human rights abuse.” Tell the members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary to protect young people in Massachusetts from this devastating practice! Child brides forced into marriage because of their parents’ beliefs have few options. As minors, they face legal dead ends. Their parents still have custody rights, and organizations and shelters are unable to interfere with those rights. As a result, these children remain with abusive families and husbands, and they are often removed from school, raped, and live in poverty. The only way to give child brides the legal right to say “No” to marriage is to eliminate the ability for minors to marry and close loopholes to existing laws. Postponing marriage until both parties are 18 gives young women the legal right to refusal, emancipation from their families, and the ability to take legal action against domestic abusers. A version of this critical bill has already passed the Massachusetts Senate unanimously. We are so close to getting this passed—please help protect children in Massachusetts by asking the Joint Committee on the Judiciary members to support H1478!

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Protect Children in Massachusetts from Forced Marriage!

American Atheists — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 19:30:07 +0000

The Massachusetts State Senate is considering S.24, legislation that would prevent forced child marriage by prohibiting marriage of individuals under the age of 18. This legislation is important because, too often, marriages occur in religious sects where very young girls are forced to marry men much older than them. Child marriage remains a widespread problem in the United States. Between 2000 and 2010, approximately 248,000 children as young as age 12 have been forced to marry. Current Massachusetts law states a minimum marriage of 18, but allows children that are younger than 18 years old to marry with consent by a parent or guardian and judicial approval. No statutory minimum-age exists for these exceptions. The U.S. State Department has called forced marriage before age 18 a “human rights abuse.” Tell your Massachusetts state senator to protect young people in Massachusetts from this devastating practice! Child brides forced into marriage because of their parents’ religion have few options. As minors, they face legal dead ends: Their parents still have custody rights, and organizations and shelters are unable to interfere with those rights. As a result, these children remain with abusive families and husbands, and they are far too often removed from school, sexually assaulted, and live in poverty. The only way to give child brides the legal right to say “no” to marriage is to eliminate the ability for minors to marry and close loopholes to existing laws. Postponing marriage until both parties are 18 gives young women the legal right to refuse and the ability to take legal action against victimizers. Children should not be forced into marriage or made to suffer because of the religious beliefs of their parents. Tell Massachusetts senators to support S.24!

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End Child Marriage in Massachusetts

American Atheists — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 20:10:14 +0000

Boston, MA—On Tuesday, Jennifer Bradbury, atheist activist and a survivor of child marriage, testified for American Atheists supporting S. 24. This bill would end child marriage in Massachusetts. “As a Massachusetts resident and member of American Atheists, which has over 1,000 constituents in Massachusetts, I thank you for holding a hearing on Senate Bill 24, ” she said. “This life-saving bill would protect young people in Massachusetts from being coerced into marriage against their will, a harmful and archaic practice that happens all-too-frequently across our nation. We urge you to swiftly pass this important legislation.” The U.S. State Department has called marriage before age 18 a “human rights abuse.” An estimated 1,200 minors were married in Massachusetts between 2000 and 2016, the majority of which were girls marrying men. Current Massachusetts law has provisions which permit young people under the age of 18 to marry if they have parental consent and judicial approval. Appallingly, there is no minimum statutory age for these exceptions. By adopting S. 24, Massachusetts would eliminate these loopholes and join states such as New Jersey and Delaware, which have taken proactive steps to end child marriage.

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American Atheists Submits Testimony Supporting Bill Preventing Religiously-Motivated Discrimination in Massachusetts

American Atheists — Wed, 27 Jun 2018 16:59:09 +0000

Boston, MA—On behalf of its more than 1,000 members and supporters in Massachusetts, American Atheists has submitted testimony in support of H 767, a bill that would prevent for-profit business owners from discriminating on the basis of religious belief. The bill would close the loopholes created by the U.S. Supreme Court in its Hobby Lobby and Masterpiece Cakeshop decisions. Massachusetts law currently prohibits various forms of discrimination in areas like housing, employment, and public accommodations, on the grounds of race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, veteran status, and others. While current law provides specific limited exemptions for religious nonprofit organizations, such as allowing religious schools or houses of worship to give religion-based employment preferences, state law does not specifically address claims for-profit businesses. For 50 years before the 2014 Hobby Lobby decision, the Supreme Court has not recognized a business owner’s religious objections as a valid argument for challenging neutral public accommodation laws. However, Hobby Lobby opened the flood gates for similar claims across the nation. H 767 would explicitly prevent for-profit businesses organized under state law and similar businesses incorporated in other states but doing business in Massachusetts from raising religious claims for corporate exemptions to nondiscrimination laws. The bill would not amend Massachusetts’ nondiscrimination laws themselves, but would instead clarify that business corporations do not have the power under Massachusetts law to assert “based on the purported religious beliefs or moral convictions on the part of the corporation,” exemptions from or claims of defense against nondiscrimination laws. You can read American Atheists’ testimony here.

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