One week from today, I’ll be speaking in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Women’s Atheist and Agnostic Group meeting at the Center for Inquiry building. My talk is titled “Taking a Pollyanna Break: Celebrating Our Wins”.

I know this may seem like an odd time to focus on the positive. With the Mark Oppenheimer article and the subsequent behavior of many of Shermer’s colleagues, it’s incredibly difficult to escape the realization that many in our movements thinks sexual harassment and assault should be swept under the rug. Frankly, that’s demoralizing. So is watching them say this with little reaction from movement leadership.

On the other hand, this is exactly when we need to remember that we’re changing this movement. What we’ve done hasn’t been quick, and it’s come at a cost, but this movement doesn’t look like it did just a few years ago. So let’s take a break, celebrate the wins and the people who have made them happen, and recharge.

Details on the talk can be found here. This meeting is open to the general public, not just LAWAAG members. I’ll be in LA for the rest of the week as well, so we may set up a meetup as well. And don’t forget to attend A Woman’s Room Online while you can. The exhibit will close October 13.

I’m staying in LA to attend the People of Color Beyond Faith Moving Social Justice conference October 11-12. If you can, you should go to that too. I won’t be talking. I’ll be learning and live-tweeting the conference if wifi and/or cell coverage allow. The lineup is great.

• Sikivu Hutchinson
• Tony Pinn
• Debbie Goddard
• Heina Dadabhoy
• Donald Wright
• Kim Veal

And a whole bunch more people with education and experience and a chance to talk without being talked over. Who wouldn’t want the opportunity to listen to these folks talk effective social justice? Come to this conference if you can.

I hope to see a whole bunch of you in both places.