I don't have much more insightful analysis to add to the mountains of commentary on the results of the US Presidential Election.

What I will say is that it concluded the way it was run, with our core Humanist values - reason, compassion and hope - being set aside in favour of hatred, anger and despair. Dark days are ahead.

I'd encourage you to read what Humanist groups across the USA have said about their commitment to work together for justice, peace and the values of equality and human dignity.

We must be similarly vigilant here in Canada and in BC because it's folly to think that we are immune or above the racial resentments and the willingness to permit casual and egregious misogyny and bigotry that allowed it to come to this.

And I have to ask one more time for you to set up a regular donation if you haven't already so we're ready and able to keep fighting.

~Ian Bushfield, Executive Director

The following article was first published on the day after the US Presidential Election at The Huffington Post and then on TheHumanist.com. It was written by Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist.

The time is past due for progressive America to rethink its strategies. As the number of secular freethinkers has risen, they, along with people of colour, supporters of the LGBTQ community, and other progressive people declared victory far in advance of realizing it. As we projected the “end of white Christian America,” there was a sense that the final waves of backwards thinking were crashing once and for all. But those who went to sleep last night hoping for the best awakened to a very different reality.

Last week, the BC Court of Appeal released its decision on Trinity Western University vs Law Society of BC.

We intervened in this case to argue that the court should take a skeptical look at what limits should be put on freedom of religion and to consider the rights of the non-Evangelical students who choose to study at TWU. We had hoped the justices would engage with our arguments; unfortunately, they chose not to.

Instead, the decision uncritically adopts the arguments of TWU and its intervenors and allows "religious freedom" to be used as an excuse to trample on human rights.

Encouragingly though, some of those students are starting to speak up.

The TWU student newspaper published comments from 14 TWU alumni on what it was like to be queer at the school.

"[TWU] was without a doubt one of the loneliest, hopeless and self-deprecating periods of my life. It was pure, terrifying isolation.”

Another alum published a longer version of one of those accounts, as well as her own story and an argument for TWU to change its Covenant.

CKNW journalist Shelby Thom spoke about their stories on the air. She went farther challenging TWU's spokesperson who claims that TWU is a "safe, welcoming place" for LGBTQ students by directly pointing to these stories. She also published an article highlighting TWU's hypocrisy in shutting down conversations on its Facebook page.

This growing backlash, in addition to the Ontario Court of Appeal's ruling that upheld equality rights, shows that this this latest decision will not be the last word.

We're looking forward to continuing the fight at the Supreme Court of Canada.

How 'neurosexism' is holding back gender equality – and science itself

By Gina Rippon, Aston University

People looking for proof that men and women learn, speak, solve problems or read maps differently often think brain scanners are the ultimate answer. And it’s easy to see why. Whether you want to advocate separate schools for girls and boys or sex-segregated training of our armed forces, you can be sure to find brightly colour-coded maps highlighting differences between males and females in various brain areas – potentially backing up your argument.

The power of “neuro” has been firmly harnessed in the ongoing debate about the differences between men and women. Enthusiastic references to “cutting edge neuroscience” are constantly used by people making assumptions about sex differences – ranging from marketers to politicians and pressure groups.

Today is Halloween, which remains a very unique holiday for Humanists.

On the one hand, our rational sides dismiss the mystical and supernatural elements of the day. Some of us appreciate a good ghost story or spooky movie but it's not any more special of a day to be more in touch with the deceased.

But the flip side is the day offers a lot of opportunity to promote satire, in a well-timed costume, and expose more puritanical beliefs that remain prevalent to this day.

It also offers a lighthearted and predominantly secular opportunity for community, whether in Halloween parties, or simply by getting people out to meet their neighbours while trick-or-treating.

So Happy Halloween to all who celebrate this day

By Magdalena Zawisza, Anglia Ruskin University

Just when you thought sexism was a thing of the past, revelations about Donald Trump bragging about groping women hit the news. Yet only 13% of female Republicans think he should stop campaigning for the presidency. While women generally favour his Democratic rival Hilary Clinton, 49% of them rate her unfavourably. Despite her life-long commitment to public service, she is often criticised as a bad mother. UK prime minister Theresa May, too, is often seen as cold and unrelatable while Margaret Thatcher was referred to as the “Iron Lady” – competent but cold.

Feminists are often seen in a similar way. Think back to Meryl Streep’s interview about her experience of the gender pay gap in the movie industry. When asked if she was a feminist she did not use the F-word and stressed her love for men – as if pre-empting an attack. But why should there be such unease and reluctance surrounding feminism, which after all just strives for equality of the sexes? It may all be in the nature of sexism.

Every November 11, people across BC and Canada take a moment to remember those who've lost their lives in war, and that includes the many atheists and non-religious people who've served.

Yet every year, we receive reports that various public Remembrance Day Ceremonies, which are run by local Legions, feature explicitly Christian prayers and invocations to the exclusion of any other worldviews.

The BC/Yukon Command of the Royal Canadian Legion has said that they "do not have rules which force branches to use specific prayers or invocations."

This year, we've already helped challenge religious content in the Port Coquitlam Legion's ceremony and we'll be paying attention for any other stories.

We're also helping Vancouver Peace Poppies organize a special event in the afternoon on November 11 to remember the civilian casualties of war and conflict. Please let us know if you're able to volunteer for that event.

Finally, please also let us know if you're a veteran so we can help debunk the myth that there are no atheists in foxholes.

By Lauren Griffin, University of Florida

Much has been made about the predictable partisan split between presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump on issues of science and public policy. But what about their supporters? Can Americans really be that far apart in terms of science?

That liberals and conservatives have different opinions toward science is taken as a given. Typically, conservatives are painted as anti-science, with some studies suggesting their mistrust of science is increasing. Liberals, on the other hand, are usually assumed to be more receptive to science in general and more supportive of using science to shape policy.

While medical assistance in dying is now legal and available for some, too many hurdles remain and are causing too many Canadians to endure needless suffering.

The biggest challenge here in BC might be the fact that many religious hospitals (who receive around $1 billion in public funding) are refusing to even allow conversations to happen about a patient's legal right to an assisted death.

This is why Dying With Dignity Canada is asking you to write an email to Premier Christy Clark and Health Minister Terry Lake, asking them to remove this unjust barrier.

The other barrier is the restriction put in place by Bill C-14 that restricts access to those whose natural deaths are "reasonably foreseeable."

We spoke against this at the time and now BCHA Honorary Member Gary Bauslaugh has launched a petition to repeal that section of the law.

Visit our website to read more about these two easy actions and then:

SEND AN EMAIL

SIGN THE PETITION

Our group has existed in one shape or another since 1982 and since 1990 we've gone by the name British Columbia Humanist Association.

That said, like many "BC" organizations, we are likely guilty of spending much of our focus on Metro Vancouver to the exclusion of the rest of the province.

In an effort to address this concern, your Board of Directors has created a survey to collect your feedback on whether we're adequately serving your needs.

We'll collect these responses over the next few weeks and use them to inform and build upon our ongoing work.

So please take a couple minutes and let us know what you think.