Aug. 24, 2005

A coalition of non-religious organizations has hired the first 
lobbyist in Washington D.C. to represent the rights of atheists, 
humanists and other freethinkers.

"I am delighted by the appointment of Lori Lipman Brown 
(http://secular.org/images/Lori_Lipman_Brown.jpg) as first 
director/lobbyist of the Secular Coalition for America," said 
Herb Silverman, president of the Secular Coalition for America 
(http://www.secular.org). "Bias against nonbelievers is the 
last civil rights struggle in which blatant discrimination by 
politicians is viewed as acceptable behavior. That situation 
is about to change."

As a Nevada state senator from 1992 to 1994, Brown passed bills 
dealing with the repeal of consensual sex crimes, mental health 
care reform and school curricula. She is admitted to practice law 
in three states, as well as in the 9th Circuit District Court. 
She has taught Constitutional Law in college.

As director, Brown will focus her energies on lobbying and 
coalition building. She will begin her duties on Sept. 19.

"I have wanted to put my political skills to greater use for 
years now, and working on the federal level is very exciting," 
said Brown, adding that her new position with the SCA is her 
dream job. "I expect some members of Congress and their staffs 
may be wary of a secular person. For that reason, I think it will 
be essential that they come to know me as an ethical good person 
whose information they can trust. I will make sure they do."

The Secular Coalition for America is a national 501(c)(4) 
lobbying organization in Washington D.C. dedicated to promoting 
secularism and humanism on the federal level. Members of the SCA 
include the American Humanist Association, the Atheist Alliance 
International, the Internet Infidels, the Institute for Humanist 
Studies and the Secular Student Alliance. The Military 
Association of Atheists and Freethinkers is an honorary member 
of the SCA.

"My biggest challenge will be framing ... information in such a 
way that it will be accepted by members of Congress who are also 
receiving pressure from the folks at home who push for a 
theocracy," Brown said.

"The 2006 mid-term congressional elections could decide the 
future of chuch/state separation in the United States," said Tim 
Gordinier, public policy director of the Institute for Humanist 
Studies. "We are excited to have our own lobbyist promoting a 
secular agenda long before the candidates start making stump 
speeches. This is the first step in breaking the religious 
right's stranglehold on cultural politics in our nation's 
capital."

The Institute for Humanist Studies of Albany, N.Y. is a founding 
member of the Secular Coalition for America. Gordinier served on 
the selection committee that hired Brown.

Until Brown begins work, Gordinier remains the nation's only 
registered lobbyist focusing solely on secular humanism. On 
behalf of the Institute for Humanist Studies, Gordinier has 
lobbied the New York State Legislature in favor of stem-cell 
research, emergency contraception and repealing a "blue law" 
that restricted alcohol sales on Sundays.

"We formed the Secular Coalition for America because we felt 
that national (freethought) organizations would be willing 
to cooperate and show our strength in numbers if given the 
opportunity," Silverman said. "In the past, we spent too much 
time arguing among ourselves and not enough time trying to 
influence politicians who either ignore or denigrate us." 

For more information about the Secular Coalition for America, 
visit: http://www.secular.org

Duncan Crary is the director of communications at the Institute 
for Humanist Studies, http://www.HumanistStudies.org. He is the 
editor of the Institute's weekly e-zine, 
http://www.HumanistNetworkNews.org