Humanist Ottawa

HUMANIST OTTAWA bows out of Pride Parade participation this year.

Dear Mayor Sutcliffe,

I would like to commend you on your thoughtful decision not to participate in this year’s Capital Pride parade. Your stance, rooted in a deep commitment to inclusivity and sensitivity to the concerns of the Jewish community, reflects the kind of principled leadership that our city greatly values.

At Humanist Ottawa, we have also decided not to participate in the parade this year. We share your concerns regarding the divisive atmosphere created by the recent statement from Capital Pride. While we remain firm supporters of the 2SLGBTQ+ community and the values of equality and inclusion that Pride represents, we believe it is crucial to stand in solidarity with all communities who feel distressed by recent global events.

To that end, we have invited our members to join an alternative social gathering along the parade route. This activity is intended as a peaceful demonstration of our continued support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community while acknowledging the legitimate concerns raised by members of our community in light of Capital Pride’s recent statement. Our aim is to balance our broad-based commitment to social justice with the need to foster an inclusive environment where all feel welcome and supported.

Thank you for your leadership and for taking a stand that resonates with many in our city. We hope that, through continued dialogue and understanding, we can work towards a community where all voices are heard and respected.

Sincerely,

Robert Hamilton
President
Humanist Ottawa

Government-sponsored religious discrimination by funding a Catholic separate school system in Ontario — which gives exclusive, preferential treatment to one religious group — is a violation of the global human right of freedom of religion or belief, an international embarrassment, a financial disaster and a moral disgrace. The Ontario government can and should pass legislation that stops public funding of a second, non-public school system.

Ontario MPP Jessica Bell (NDP University-Rosedale) has agreed to present a petition at Queen’s Park, calling for the elimination of public funding for the Catholic School systems. The signature of Ontario residents will help to ensure that this petition is presented in the provincial legislature and will attract media attention and raise public awareness. This is another step in the eventual, inevitable withdrawal of discriminatory public funding for a school system that privileges a single religion over all other beliefs including non-belief.

We need your assistance in circulating physical copies of the downloadable petition (see comments below) and returning them by October 1, 2023 to:

Petitions: Centre for Inquiry Canada
PO Box 83045, Ottawa RPO Bank Walkley,
Ontario K1V 1A3

Help us to get signatures by sharing the petition on social media, through your website, in person at any events you attend, and by requesting that your family and friends sign and share it.

According to rules of the Ontario Legislative Assembly, to be presented a petition must:
- Ask for an action that is within the jurisdiction of the Legislative Assembly.
- Use clear and respectful language.
- Include the petition text at the top of every page of signatures.
- All signatures must be original. They must be written directly on the petition.
- Each petitioner must print their name and address and sign their name under the text of the petition.
- Petitioners must be residents of Ontario.
- The petition must be addressed to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
- The petition must be written, typewritten, or printed. Emailed, faxed, photocopied, or online petitions are not allowed.

Please note:
Do not change or annotate the petition. Any changes, including written notations may invalidate the form, including all signatures on the page. If you have technical questions contact [email protected]

World Humanist Congress 2023

Signs of the times.

More protest footage. Gender issues are a big deal.

This was taken just before a large group of pro-choice markers appeared on the scene.

Humanist Ottawa Pro-Choice Advocacy Live Stream

Humanist Ottawa has submitted a report to the United Nations Human Rights Council citing international human rights violations of Canada surrounding public funding of denominational schools in certain provinces and unjust inequalities on who can and can’t have a humanist wedding across the country.

As this is advocacy at the global level, here’s Humanist International’s news announcement about this advocacy of our group.

https://humanists.international/2023/04/humanist-ottawa-calls-on-canada-to-reject-systemic-faithism-in-a-submission-to-un/

Humanist Ottawa calls on Canada to reject "systemic faithism" in a submission to UN Humanist Ottawa's UPR report highlights how laws in several Canadian states perpetuate systemic religious discrimination in the field of education and marriage equality

Hello Canadian humanists! Speak up for human rights! Join us in supporting Soheil Arabi, an imprisoned Iranian atheist facing punishment for dissenting against the oppressive Islamic Republic regime. Help us advocate for his release and the protection of human rights in Iran by sending a letter to Canadian MPs today. With your support, we can make a real difference in Soheil’s life and stand in solidarity with those fighting for basic human dignity.

Take action by click this link to send a letter to Canadian MPs in just 3 minutes:
https://tinyurl.com/SoheilArabilLetterCampaign

Skeptics in the Pub: A fun night to meet new friends and learn a few new things.

We, the undersigned ex-Muslim, atheist, secularist and freethought organisations, have joined together to politically sponsor the well-known Iranian atheist and ex-Muslim Soheil Arabi, who was re-arrested from his home on 2 January 2023 by the Islamic Republic of Iran's security forces.

Sources have informed us that he was violently beaten during the arrest, denied much-needed medicine and moved to an unknown location.

We are extremely concerned about his well-being given the increased risk of ex*****on for many protestors and critics in an effort to quell the revolutionary uprising since the murder of Mahsa Jina Amini. As a long-term political prisoner previously on death row, Soheil’s life is at grave risk.

A political sponsorship system has proven effective in protecting Iranian political prisoners. As Soheil Arabi’s political sponsors, we will continue to advocate and mobilise support and solidarity for him and put pressure on the Islamic regime of Iran to free him immediately and unconditionally.



Atheist Republic
Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain
Arab Humanists USA
Ateizm Dernegi (Association of Atheism, Turkey)
Ateizm Dernegi International Foundation
Atheist Ireland
Atheist Refugee Relief
Black Skeptics
Bread and Roses TV
Center for Inquiry
Center for Inquiry Canada
Central Committee of Ex-Muslims in Scandinavia
Centre for Civic Courage, Croatia
Council of Ex-Muslims of Germany
Council of Ex-Muslims of Singapore
Council of Ex-Muslims of Sri Lanka
Ex-Muslims of Netherlands
Ex-Muslims Of Norway
Ex-Muslims of Toronto
Faithless Hijabi
FEMEN
Freedom From Religion Foundation
Freethought Lebanon
Giordano Bruno Foundation
Humanist Ottawa
Inara association of Tunisian atheists and freethinkers
Indian Rationalist Association
International League of Non-Religious and Atheists
Kazimierz Lyszczynski Foundation
Kent Community Secular Alliance
Liberals Mauritania
Libres penseurs athées (Atheist Freethinkers)
Livonia Arabic Salon
Manaarah Initiative
Muslimish
National Secular Society
One Law for All
Peter Tatchell Foundation
Quebec Humanist Association
Rationalist International
Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science
Secular Connexion Séculière
Secular Underground Network, a project of the Fix Foundation
Secularism is a Women’s Issue
Southall Black Sisters

For more information contact Maryam Namazie, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain at [email protected] and Susanna McIntyre, Atheist Republic at [email protected]

https://humanists.international/2022/12/secularism-in-the-balance/

Check out the Freedom of Thought Report.
Secularism is in the Balance.

Humanist Ottawa is an Associate Member of Humanist International.

Report reveals the impact of the precarious state of secularism globally 11 edition of the Freedom of Thought Report lays bare the effects of an absence of state secularism on non-religious people.