Atheist Rights

I’ve been toying with the following “Atheist Declaration of Rights.” I’d welcome any additions, deletions, changes or corrections. And if someone else has already done this, I’d appreciate knowing that too.

Atheist Declaration of Rights

1. Freedom from Fear and Hate:
In every part of America, atheists have the right to live free of fear for their personal safety, their homes, pets and possessions. Atheists have the right to be safe from public hate speech and vilification.

2. Freedom of Speech:
Atheists have the right to freely speak of atheism in public, or to publicly display characteristic messages or symbols, without fear of repercussion, in the same degree that religious speakers enjoy.

3. Equal Time:
Atheists have the right to equal time with religious voices on any public issue. They have the right to equal and open airing of their convictions, views and concerns, and to participate in any public discussion of morality, ethics or social issues, to the exact degree that religious voices are invited to speak. Atheists have the right to equal time to respond, on any stage or medium, anytime atheists or atheism is covered in a negative light. Atheists have the right to equal access to media in order to weigh in on science, medicine, social policy, political campaigns, etc., and to receive respect equal to that given religious voices.

4. Equal Rights:
Atheists have equal rights in the work environment, in voting, in running for public office, in serving on juries or any other public or social/civic duty. Atheists have the right to be free from religious discrimination in the seeking of housing or jobs.

Atheists have the right to join any civic or educational organization that people of religion can join, without discrimination.

Atheist organizations have the right to public resources, information or publicity on an equal basis with religious groups. Atheist organizations aimed at good works have a right to the same sort of tax advantages that religious organizations have.

Atheists have the right to decline to take part in religious ceremonies, and to refuse religious oaths, without fear of reprisal or disenfranchisement. Atheist soldiers have the right to claim conscientious objector status on an equal footing with those of any religious persuasion.

5. Equal Representation:
Atheists have the right as taxpayers to know that tax money intended for public works and charities is not diverted to bolster the coffers or support the sectarian message of any church or religious group. Atheists have the right to government free of religious influence, schools free of religious coercion, and courthouses free of religious oaths.

6. Religious Freedom:
Atheists, like all citizens, have the right to be free of religious proselytizing in captive public environments such as schools, courthouses, and public sporting events.

All people, including minor teens, have the right to express religious preferences – including atheism – different from any historic religious tradition without fear of reprisal from family, social or political group, tribe, church, or government.

7. Family Integrity:
Atheist parents have the right to expect that their children will be safe from harassment and prejudice when away from home. They have the right to expect that their children will not be singled out for ridicule or aggressive religious proselytizing.

Atheists and their children have the right to freedom from religious proselytizing, baptizing, involuntary conversion practices or invasive medical procedures in any venue such as hospitals, emergency medical or senior care facilities.

Atheists have the right to NOT have their words or deeds rewritten after their deaths through stories of deathbed conversions.

8. Scientific Integrity:
Atheists, like all citizens, have the right to expect that publicly-funded scientific research is carried out by scientific principles rather than religious ones, and that medical research and decisions should be informed by science and reason rather than religion.