Keynote Speakers
BRADLEY ONISHIAuthor of Preparing for War: The Extremist History of White Christian Nationalism — And What Comes Next, & Co-Host, "Straight White American Jesus" Podcast
Brad will be connecting the historical and social dimensions of Christian Nationalism's—and the American Right's—attempts to restrict voting rights, reproductive rights, and institute Christian supremacy in the public square. He will be joined by Andrew L. Seidel and Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart.
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KIERRA JOHNSONExecutive Director, National LGBTQ Task ForceKierra will shed light on the coordinated attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, especially those who are transgender. She'll discuss the role of Christian Nationalism and right wing extremists, how it intersects into their coordinated war on our progressive values and infects our politics, and how we can fight back to ensure and protect freedom without favor and equality without exception. She will be joined by panelists Rev. Alex McNeill and Ranen Miao.
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KATHERINE STEWARTAuthor of The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism and The Good News Club: The Christian Right's Stealth Assault on America's Children
Katherine will discuss the attacks by Christian Nationalist and right-wing extremists on abortion (and bodily autonomy more widely), their war on women and gender equity, how this is manifesting in our politics, and how those of us fighting to preserve and strengthen church-state separation can be a part of the solution. She will be joined by panelists Rachel Laser and Rev. Traci Blackmon.
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Breakout Session Highlights
"Boom! Lawyered" Live: How the Supreme Court is Catapulting Us Toward TheocracyRewire News Group's Editor at Large Imani Gandy and Executive Editor Jessica Pieklo bring a live version of their award-winning podcast, Boom! Lawyered to audiences for the first time since the pandemic. Jess and Imani will highlight the current threats to religious freedom before the Court, explain how the Courts conservatives are using decisions like Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization to further erode the separation of church and state, and answer questions and respond to comments from the crowd.
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Using a Womanist & Black Liberation Theological Approach to Advance Religious, Reproductive, and Sexual Autonomy to Achieve Reproductive JusticeAs early as 2010, anti-abortionists have targeted the Black Christian Church and Black male clergy to advance a Christian Extremist agenda. SisterReach, a bible-belt based, Womanist-led reproductive justice organization, has used a Black liberation and Womanist theological approach to educate, train, and organize Black clergy, laity, and advocates to advance religious, reproductive, and sexual autonomy using the reproductive justice lens.
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Speakers
Elise Saulsberry (she/her)
SisterReach |
Protecting Religious Freedom in State LegislaturesEvery year, Americans United tracks more than 1,000 bills in state legislatures that touch on church-state separation issues. In this session, state policy experts will discuss how they work in state legislatures to protect religious freedom and some of the most troubling bills that have been heard this year.
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Youth Activism for Church-State SeparationHow is the next generation of church-state separation activists fighting for freedom without favor and equality without exception, and how can you join them? In this session, you’ll hear directly from youth activists about their perspectives on church-state separation and how they are advocating for change in their communities and online. We welcome people of all ages who want to learn about strategies and opportunities for youth activism.
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How to Live and Die Out LoudReligious idealism in America is the reason many people suffering from serious health issues, or diagnosed with terminal diseases have to deal with unwanted religious intrusion in their healthcare experiences. Also, ideas like “you can't play God”, inform Christian’s notion of how and when someone with a terminal disease can die. As someone who lives with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, this affects me personally.
In this session, I will discuss the quality versus quantity of life, how life has meaning in the face of impending death, and the inhumane way we in America force people to remain alive long past their desire to do so. |
Speakers
Dave Warnock (he/him)
Dying Out Loud |
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© Americans United for Separation of Church and State 2025