Does Religious Freedom Apply to Everyone?
In the United States, particularly here in South Florida, the principle of religious freedom is supposed to apply to all. But does it? That question led me, Dr T. ‘Chaz’ Stevens, Rev., to file a lawsuit against the Broward County Public School board after they permitted Christian churches to display banners on school property but denied me the same right when I requested to put up a sign that read, Satan Loves the First Amendment.
Rather than uphold the principles of free expression, school officials changed the rules, erased evidence of prior religious endorsements, and even considered using taxpayer money to reinstate a church’s banner while ensuring mine never appeared. This issue is not about Satanology. It is about equality and whether the First Amendment protects all faiths or only those that align with the majority’s religious beliefs
A Soldier’s Legacy: My Uncle Ray’s Story
My commitment to this fight is personal. My Uncle Ray, a Second World War Sherman Tankie, served with Patton’s 7th and 3rd Armies, battling from North Africa to Berlin. He endured Bastogne, the Battle of the Bulge, and the horrors of war, returning home buried in shrapnel and suffering from PTSD. He did not fight for fame. He did not fight for money.
He fought for liberty.
And his blood runs coldly through my veins. He taught me that some fights must be fought, no matter the cost. Goliath had David, right? Ray gave everything so that we—his family, his country—could live in freedom. But what good is freedom if we do not protect it? He did not risk his life overseas only for constitutional freedoms to be eroded at home. If he could withstand the horrors of war, I can certainly stand up in a courtroom to challenge religious discrimination.
Uncle Ray did not back down when his tank was under fire in Bastogne, and I will not back down in court when the First Amendment is under attack. He fought for liberty with everything he had, and now it is my turn.
Trust me, I’m scared shitless, as one mistake could risk substantial sanctions—but send me in, Coach!
This is Not My First Battle for Religious Equality
Broward County’s double standard is not an isolated case. In 2016, I sought to display a Satanic banner at Boca Raton High School, just as Christian groups had done. Instead of treating me equally, the school banned all religious banners to prevent my participation. This pattern plays out again and again:
- Christian displays? Allowed.
- Satanologist, Muslim, Jewish, Pagan, or Druidic displays? Banned.
This is not freedom. It is religious privilege masquerading as neutrality. The First Amendment does not permit the government to pick and choose which religious messages are acceptable. The United States Supreme Court has ruled on this repeatedly:
- Rosenberger v. University of Virginia (1995)—Schools cannot suppress religious speech in public forums.
- Shurtleff v. Boston (2022)—If the government permits one religion to express itself, it must allow all religions to do so.
Broward County ignored these rulings. Now, they must answer for it in court.
The High-Stakes Gamble: A Chip and a Chair
Lawsuits are expensive. They are complex. The law is an ocean of sharks, hunting for prey, and I’m looking like a bait fish. I am fighting this alone, without a lawyer.
Once a NASA engineer, now I find myself on the tip of the spear. Less than 10% of pro se litigants in federal court survive the first round of dismissal. But I did.
Then, I took a calculated risk.
No balls, no purple chips.
In Texas Hold ’Em, all you need is a chip and a chair—one last chance to stay in the game and play to win. I went all in and filed a Second Amended Complaint, not only to strengthen my arguments but to put punitive damages on the table. This means that if I win, the bad actors at Broward County could face substantial financial penalties for their unconstitutional actions.
But there was a catch. If I lost this gamble, I could have lost the entire case—no second chances. I played the hand anyway. Because Uncle Ray did not back down, and neither will I.
Ray was the rightest of the right stuff.
Fighting a School Board That Uses Your Tax Dollars
Broward County have teams of expensive lawyers, paid for with taxpayer money. I, on the other hand, come from humble beginnings. I am not a man of great wealth—in fact, my means are meagre. I do not have public funds or corporate backers behind me. This lawsuit has taxed my resources to their limit. That said, what I have is this fight, my determination, and the support of those who believe in fairness and constitutional rights.
If we do not challenge these injustices, the government will continue silencing anyone who does not fit their preferred version of ‘acceptable’ religion.
That is why I am asking for your support.
Donate here to expose religious privilege and defend the First Amendment.
Every contribution helps hold public officials accountable.
Where Do We Go From Here?
This fight is bigger than me.
- Today, Broward County silences a Satanologist.
- Tomorrow, they could silence a Muslim, a Jew, or the ‘wrong’ kind of Christian. Hell, even the Druids are at risk!
Either the First Amendment protects everyone, or it protects no one. Which side are you on?
Spread the word. Share this article. Donate now to defend religious equality!
Related reading
The case for secularism (or, the church’s new clothes), by Neil Barber
White Christian Nationalism is rising in America. Separation of church and state is the antidote. By Rachel Laser
Judging the Flying Spaghetti Monster, by Derk Venema and Niko Alm
The secular religion of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, by Mienke de Wilde and Paul Cliteur
Religious Privilege 2 : 0 Pastafarians, by Niko Alm
Reproductive freedom is religious freedom, by Andrew Seidel and Rachel Laser
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