What we’re about
Join us in celebrating Humanism!
The Jefferson Humanists is a chapter of the American Humanist Association.
Our Vision : Free thinkers building a better community
Our Mission: to expand an ethical and life affirming humanist community devoted to science, reason, inclusion and social responsibility. Through community building, lectures, social activism, and discussion we expand our member’s awareness gain an understanding of the issues facing the world and provide learning opportunities through guest speakers on a variety of topics.
In addition to a wide variety of activities (including book discussions, hiking, happy hours and more), join us for our regular monthly meetings, which are held on fourth Sunday evenings at 4pm.
A typical meeting consists of a Keynote Speaker or Special Program followed by an opportunity for questions and answers.
Before the presentation, take some time to browse our free Humanist library, become a member of our Chapter, sign up for our newsletter, explore volunteer opportunities to help us build a stronger chapter, meet new friends, ask questions about Humanism and have some appetizer and wine.
For more information about the Jefferson Humanists, see our website, www.jeffersonhumanists.org. You can also keep current on what we are doing and humanist issues in your community and the world on our Facebook page.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Monthly Meeting - What the Heck is Intersex? with Alta and Ringo HopeJefferson Unitarian Church, Golden, CO
In March, Alta and Ringo Hope will join us for their presentation, What the Heck is Intersex? A Mother and Son’s Journey from Genetics 101 to Understanding.
Ringo was born intersex. Alta adopted him as a toddler.
Biological sex is actually much more complicated than the simplified "boy/girl" taught to toddlers through XX or XY chromosomes in BIO 101 -- and culturally, variations are not talked about. Intersex, an umbrella term for gender variations, are people who have differences in their chromosomes, genitals, or internal organs like testes or ovaries. People with intersex traits have always existed, but there is more information now about the diversity of human bodies. People with intersex bodies, like anyone who may be seen as different, sometimes face discrimination, including in health care settings in infancy.
Alta will share her experience adopting and raising two intersex children. Ringo will share his experience growing up intersex and becoming an adult.
Alta and Ringo Hope are mother and son, longtime Jeffco residents, and are looking forward to sharing their story.
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SCHEDULEWe will serve snacks and refeshments from 4:00 to 4:30, then start the program. A small donation of $3 is suggested for the wine. The program will include announcements and a Humanist Moment before the presentation begins.
We hope to see you at 4:00 pm, on Sunday, March 24th, at Jefferson Unitarian Church! It is an in-person-only event.
This presentation is sponsored by Jefferson Humanists
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“The system didn’t want to say that I’m intersex. That I’m not female or male. The doctors wanted to choose a gender for me and then make my body agree with their ideas about who I should be.” ― Pidgeon Pagonis, Nobody Needs to Know: A Memoir - Sci-Fi Discussion Group: "Even the Queen" and "Story of your Life"Link visible for attendees
Do you like science fiction? Join the Jefferson Humanists Sci Fi Discussion Group where we discuss sci-fi short stories, novellas and movies. We typically meet by Zoom on the 4th Thursday of each month and occasionally meet in-person to watch sci-fi movies.
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In March, we invite you to read two short stories, "Even the Queen" by Connie Willis and " by "Story of your Life" by Ted Chiang.
"Even the Queen" s a real jewel of a story, combining humour with a glimpse of a future made possible by an advance in technology. In this case, the outrageous technological advance is that menstruation has become an optional extra. Three generations of women look at this advancement with different eyes. The Village Voice considers it "light-hearted" and "a comedy of identity politics and mother-daughter relations",while Billboard, reviewing the audiobook, describes it as a "sly jab at both feminists and anti-feminists . "Willis won the 1993 Hugo Award for Best Short Story for "Even the Queen."
"Story of Your Life" is narrated by linguist Dr. Louise Banks the day her daughter is conceived. Addressed to her daughter, the story alternates between recounting the past: the coming of the aliens and the deciphering of their language; and remembering the future: what will happen to her daughter as she grows up. "Story of Your Life" won the 2000 Nebula Award for Best Novella, as well as the 1999 Theodore Sturgeon Award. It was nominated for the 1999 Hugo Award for Best Novella and was the basis for the 2016 movie, Arrival, starring Amy Adams.
You can find an audio version of "Even the Queen" at https://escapepod.org/2017/12/28/escape-pod-608-even-queen/. A written copy can be found in "The Best of Connie Willis" found at the Jeffco Library.
"Story of your Life" is online at https://noorsiddiqui.com/papers/ted-chiang-story-of-your-life.pdf
Please read these stories on your own and come to the meeting on March 28th to share your thoughts.
RSVP to this Meetup or email ASC@jeffersonhumanists.org. Only those who RSVP will receive the Zoom link for the discussion. Attendance is limited to the first 15 people who RSVP.
To get on the JH Sci Fi Discussion Group email list, email ASC@jeffersonhumanists.org.
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“There’s a joke that I once heard a comedienne tell. It goes like this: “I’m not sure if I’m ready to have children. I asked a friend of mine who has children, ‘Suppose I do have kids. What if when they grow up, they blame me for everything that’s wrong with their lives?’ She laughed and said, ‘What do you mean, if?’ ” - Ted Chiang, Stories of Your Life and Others