ACLU apologizes to American Humanist Association for apparent mistake

ACLU Apologizes To American Humanist Association

I previously mentioned (briefly) how the ACLU of Mississippi had apparently turned down a donation of $20,000 from the American Humanist Association to help sponsor an alternative prom they’re planning to host in compensation for the one that was canceled when a lesbian student tried to force her school board to accept to let her bring her girlfriend to their original prom. The reason given for the refusal was that, well, the AHA are mostly (if not all) godless and that “the majority of Mississippians tremble in terror at the word ‘atheist’”. This certainly looked very bad for the ACLU, not only for reeking of cowardice and hypocrisy, but particularly seeing as the ACLU has already helped plenty of atheists in court and such. This decision seemed as confusing as it was absurd.

However, it would seem that it was all a misunderstanding of sorts, and that the refusal was the result of a lone erroneous staffer, not the organization in itself. The ACLU has released a public apology:

The ACLU of Mississippi serves as the fiscal sponsor of the Mississippi Safe Schools Coalition (MSSC), which is organizing an alternative prom. MSSC is a coalition of Mississippi youth dedicated to ending homophobia, transphobia, sexism and all forms of discrimination, and fostering acceptance of students regardless of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity through public education and advocacy. As fiscal sponsor, the ACLU of Mississippi is processing online donations for MSSC for the Second Chance prom and for MSSC’s ongoing work. The ACLU of Mississippi sometimes receives donation offers that are associated with sponsorship requests. In those cases, the ACLU of Mississippi passes along the offers to the advisory board of MSSC which makes the final decision about whether or not to accept those donations and sponsorship offers.

A staff person at the ACLU of Mississippi made an error in judgment in sending an e-mail to the American Humanist Association expressing concerns about accepting its donation and sponsorship offer. To our understanding, MSSC has not made a decision regarding the acceptance of this funding and sponsorship offer. The decision is up to MSSC. The American Humanist Association has been made aware of the error, and the ACLU of Mississippi has expressed its apologies to the association for that error and the sentiments expressed in the e-mail.

The sentiments expressed by the ACLU of Mississippi staff person in the referenced e-mail do not reflect the views of the ACLU of Mississippi or the National ACLU in any way. The ACLU remains a stalwart defender of freedom of belief and expression for all.

It’s good to hear that this was only the work of a misguided employee and not the organization as a whole. It’s not yet clear whether the ACLU will now accept the AHA’s donation or not; that much remains to be seen. But at least the group has regained its good standing, at least in my mind. (And they will do even better should they fire that idiot staffer.)

(via @jennifurret)