Campaigns
As Humanists, we believe in treating others equally and compassionately. As Secularists, we believe in the rights of the individual and that belonging to a religious group does not entitle you to special privileges. If we find instances in Lancashire where these principles are not being upheld, especially in government or public sector organisations, we campaign against such discrimination.
How do we campaign?
Our members frequently write to their MPs and public sector organisations about issues where they feel citizens are being discriminated against or unethical practices. We also write letters on behalf of the group where appropriate.
We talk to the press about our concerns, attend public meetings and try to educate the public about the importance of equality and fairness.
We are affiliated to the British Humanist Association and the National Secular Society, so we lend local support to any national campaigns coordinated by them.
Examples of campaigns
- We are concerned about the influence of religion in state education. See our Education page for more detail.
- We protested to Wyre Borough Council about the outsourcing of their leisure centres to the Young Men’s Christian Association – so anyone who becomes a member of these publicly-funded leisure centres is effectively joining the YMCA.
- We expressed concern to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council over a non-Islamic state school serving new strict-adherence Halal food to its pupils, despite the advice of the FAWC, a government-appointed body, that religious slaughter causes “very significant pain and distress”.
- We supplied examples of prayers during local council meetings to the NSS in preparation for a legal challenge they were mounting – more detail on the NSS website.
- We instigated a campaign which led to curtains being fitted at Carleton Crematorium allowing the cross to be covered for non-Christian ceremonies. After this, when the Poulton New Cemetery Chapel was renovated, they arranged for similar curtains to be fitted.
Current campaigns
See our News section for the latest on our recent campaigns. You will see the Campaigns section and sub-categories in the links on the right hand side of the page.
Here to help you
If you feel you are experiencing prejudice, or need to make a stand against an example of religious privilege, please get in touch or come to one of our meetings.
You can help us
If you support our aims, please get involved: join our Facebook group, or follow us on Twitter, to show your support; or come along to one of our meetings, or contact us, to find out what action you can take as an individual.
