Nebraska state Sen. Megan Hunt is receiving plaudits this week from FFRF Action Fund as its “Secularist of the Week” for suing an anti-LGBTQ group on grounds of defamation. Damned with the Action Fund’s “Theocrat of the Week” branding is Arkansas’ former state Sen. Jason Rapert, who recently said: “My hope is that the people of this nation will reelect Jesus to be on the throne here again in our country.”
Feisty activist Hunt was named the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s “Freethought Heroine” last year for a valiant filibuster that delayed Nebraska from adopting any abortion ban for a year.
Hunt has recently faced death threats and harassment by Christian extremists calling her a pedophile and child groomer after she reluctantly went public during floor debate about her transgender son, Ash, age 12. She provided personal testimony to oppose a measure banning gender-affirming care for youths, explaining how negatively it would impact her and her son. Unfortunately, the bill, viciously joined to a 12-week abortion ban, was passed by the unicameral Legislature. That has only been the beginning of her family’s plight. Hunt is suing the conservative political action committee Nebraska Freedom Coalition, seeking to “protect Nebraskans who are defamed by extremists.”
“One email suggested that Hunt’s genitalia should be cut off and threatened physical harm,” the lawsuit charges. “Another indicated that she should be publicly executed while another provided her home address and stated her son should be kidnapped.”
FFRF Action Fund applauds Hunt for her courage and condemns the hate campaign against her family.
This week’s “theocrat,” Jason Rapert, sponsored legislation to erect a Ten Commandments monument on the grounds of the Arkansas Capitol, which FFRF and its plaintiff are suing over. He founded the National Association of Christian Lawmakers (NACL) and Holy Ghost Ministries, both of which have come under fire. Before he left the Legislature, he was forced to unblock his atheist constituents from his social media accounts, following a lawsuit by American Atheists.
Rapert embarrassed himself earlier this year when it was reported he’d claimed, on Facebook: “I just met Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court after a dinner meeting this evening. I shook his hand and briefly discussed the National Association of Christian Lawmakers. Told him we have been praying for them and we will continue to do so. I chose not to ask for a picture, but I left him with our NACL card, which is more important.”
Roberts’ spokesperson told Newsweek: “The Chief Justice did not have a meeting with this individual.”
FFRF Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization that develops and advocates for legislation, regulations and government programs to preserve the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. It also advocates for the rights and views of nonbelievers, endorses candidates for political office, and publicizes the views of elected officials concerning religious liberty issues. FFRF Action Fund serves as the advocacy arm of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which has more than 40,000 members and works to keep religion out of government and educate the public about nontheism.
