What we’re about
Meet other local Humanists, people who believe in the basic goodness of the human spirit without supernaturalism.
The Washington Area Secular Humanists (WASH) was incorporated in 1989 as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization in Maryland. Our purpose is to promote scientific literacy and critical thinking, to provide a forum for humanists and others to explore humanist principles and how they relate to all aspects of human experience, and to study the significance of humanism throughout history. Secular humanists are distinguished by an emphasis on scientific methods of knowing, separation of church and state, and a commitment to the pursuit of humanist goals outside religious frameworks.
WASH has several active Chapters from Roanoke, VA to Baltimore, MD.
WASH is an independently incorporated non-profit organization and also a chapter of the American Humanist Association and an affiliate of American Atheists.
Check out our webpage and find a link to our chapter pages and our bimonthly newsletter "WASHline."
http://www.wash.org
While being a member of the WASH meetup group is free please consider joining as a member of WASH to help support our activities.
http://www.wash.org/join
Like us on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/wash89
Upcoming events (4)
See all- Secular Lunch Sun. Apr. 27, at 1pmCheesecake Factory, Washington, DC
This is our monthly in real life event in DC or Maryland. Please register on Eventbrite if you'll be attending. Please register on Eventbrite if you are attending https://www.eventbrite.com/e/secular-lunch-sun-apr-27-at-1pm-tickets-1322673474969?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl
- Wayne Besen: Debunking "Conversion Therapy" and the "Ex-Gay" IndustryLink visible for attendees
Hi everyone, you need to register for this event on Eventbrite, if you have not already RSVP'd on PaperlessPost.
Wayne Besen: Debunking "Conversion Therapy" and the "Ex-Gay" Industry Tickets, Sun, May 18, 2025 at 2:00 PM | EventbriteThis talk by Wayne Besen is for everyone — straight people, straight allies, and LGBTQ people.
Wayne Besen is a journalist, author, and LGBTQ rights advocate, renowned for his efforts to debunk the "ex-gay" movement and "conversion therapy" practices.
Wayne Besen’s upcoming talk to the Washington Area Secular Humanists is especially timely. Unfortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court will soon hear a case challenging Colorado's 2019 ban on "conversion therapy" for minors. This law prohibits licensed mental health professionals from attempting to change a minor’s sexual orientation or gender identity. All major scientific and medical organizations affirm that sexual orientation is not changeable.
Opposing "conversion therapy" is important to the secular community because it is a religion vs. science issue. It is overwhelmingly motivated by religious beliefs that LGBTQ people are “bad,” whereas science shows that LGBTQ people are normal and healthy. As humanists, we support evidence-based care over faith-based ideology.
Wayne Besen will be speaking with us on Sunday, May 18, at 2:00 PM EDT via Zoom. Don’t miss this important event. If you have not already RSVP'd, register on Eventbrite for your free ticket.
