Through our weekly newsletter, we like to let you know about our upcoming events as well as a number of issues and campaigns that we think might be of interest to you. Let me know if you have any suggestions to include in future roundups. Email: [email protected]

And for the latest news items, be sure to like the BC Humanists on Facebook and follow @BCHumanist on Twitter.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions which appear in this roundup are not necessarily shared by all or even most of the members and board of the BC Humanist Association.

By Sarah Lyons-Padilla, Stanford University and Michele Gelfand, University of Maryland

The discovery that several of the Paris attackers were European nationals has fueled concern about Muslim immigrants becoming radicalized in the West.

Some politicians have expressed views that the best way to avoid homegrown terrorists is to shut the door.

The refugee migration debate turned even more contentious after authorities found a Syrian passport at the scene of the attack. Poland is now turning back refugees, more than half of American governors have vowed to refuse Middle Easterners seeking a new beginning, and US House Speaker Ryan has asked for a “pause” on the federal Syrian refugee program.

The B.C. government continues to pass on opportunity after opportunity to show country-wide leadership on physician assisted dying.

E-mail your MLA today. Tell your representatives to speak out for patients' rights

Editor's note: Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, which memorializes those who have been killed due to their gender identity. In honour, we are sharing two articles on our blog. The second, below, was originally posted on TheHumanist.com by Callie Wright.

Remembering Our Dead: Transgender Day of Remembrance Sadly Still Needed

Since 1999, on November 20 people around the world (today in more than 185 cities and twenty countries) observe Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). On this day communities come together to remember those lost to anti-transgender violence in the past year. The event began as a memorial to an African-American transgender woman from Allston, Massachusetts, named Rita Hester, who was murdered in her own apartment in 1998. The community held a vigil in her honor, and since then, the date has become the annual Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Editor's note: Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance, which memorializes those who have been killed due to their gender identity. In honour, we are sharing two articles on our blog. The first, below, was originally posted on The Conversation US yesterday for International Toilet Day. It highlights the importance of ensuring transgender students have access to the bathroom they choose. Much of the opposition to laws and policies that will protect transgender rights comes from evangelical faith groups.

Robert McMann gave us permission to share this story about challenging an attempt to insert prayers into schools by the Lloydminister Public School Board in Saskatchewan.

My story has to do with the prayer in public schools conversations, debates, rage, et al that was being discussed here around a month ago. Some of us are still dealing with it, others have managed to make some positive changes. This is an example of the latter.

Through our weekly newsletter, we like to let you know about our upcoming events as well as a number of issues and campaigns that we think might be of interest to you. Let me know if you have any suggestions to include in future roundups. Email: [email protected]

And for the latest news items, be sure to like the BC Humanists on Facebook and follow @BCHumanist on Twitter.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions which appear in the newsletter and in this roundup of all the news which didn't fit within the newsletter are not necessarily shared by all or even most of the members and board of the BC Humanist Association.

Following Friday's horrific terrorist attacks in Paris, I'm happy to see the Humanist community stand in solidarity against violence, hatred and fear. I don't know what more I can add personally to what's been said, so instead I'll highlight what others have been saying in the past few days.

Through our weekly newsletter, we like to let you know about our upcoming events as well as a number of issues and campaigns that we think might be of interest to you. Let me know if you have any suggestions to include in future roundups. Email: [email protected]

And for the latest news items, be sure to like the BC Humanists on Facebook and follow @BCHumanist on Twitter.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions which appear in the newsletter and in this roundup of all the news which didn't fit within the newsletter are not necessarily shared by all or even most of the members and board of the BC Humanist Association.

As we approach the longest night many of our most vulnerable citizens are experiencing an increased need for warmth. As part of our Humanist Action campaign to put our values into practice, we are collecting coats and warm clothes for those in need.

Please check your closets and your Humanist hearts for coats, blankets, thermal underwear, socks and gloves to donate to: 
Downtown Eastside Women's Centre and First United Church Shelter.