Dear EHST Members and Friends –

Today was a very good day for me.

My letter to the N&O, responding to Ross Douthat's Column bemoaning the loss of liberty to those who are no longer allowed to discriminate against LGBTQ people in Arizona, was published in today's paper.

You may find Douthat's column here: 

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/03/03/3670839/the-terms-of-surrender-on-same.html

My reply is here: 

http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/03/08/3682960/randall-best-civil-rights-for.html

Then this afternoon I had the pleasure of hosting a very lively joint meeting of the EHST and the newly formed Durham/Orange chapeter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. Our featured speaker was Rev. Barry Lynn, the National Executive Director of Americans United.

At one point during his talk, Rev. Lynn qouted part of my letter… "Particular religious beliefs should not trump our human rights, no matter how passionately held."

Barry Lynn's talk was engaging and the panel discussion afterwards that, in addition to Rev. Lynn, included Rev. John Saxon, Lead Pastor of teh Raleigh UU Church; Dr. Gregory Malhoit, emeritus Professor of Law at NCCU; and, Judge Beverly Scarlett, District 15B Court Judge (Orange and Chatham) was very informative.

Over 100 people attended our meeting.  I consider this to be a very successful joint venture and look forward to futher collaborations with the local chapter of Americans United.

Randy Best, Leader, Ethical Humanist Society of the Triangle