2005: A year-end report from Secular Coalition director/lobbyist Lori Lipman Brown
Jan. 2, 2006
Dear Secular Coalition activist,
Happy New Year!
Although an end-of-the-year report from someone who started her job in the middle of September (as I did) might be expected to be short, thanks to your support I have quite a lot to say. Your money and your calls to Congress have made for a very bright beginning to our new lobbying effort.
Since starting as the first paid staff for the organization on September 19th, 2005, I have been welcomed in more than 40 Congressional offices, lobbying on issues such as our opposition to religious discrimination in Head Start, our struggle against vouchers for private religious schools,and our support of legislation to require that legal prescriptions be filled regardless of a pharmacist's religious beliefs. The question I am most often asked on these lobbying visits is, "Do you represent people in my district?" The answer to this is best expressed in the phone calls and e-mails you make from our Action Alerts. These contacts carry much weight.
The Secular Coalition for America has been welcomed into three large, active coalitions. A coalition working on the Head Start issue, which includes religious organizations, civil rights groups and labor unions, was happy to include our secular perspective. To fight religious vouchers, we have joined with education organizations as well as other church/state separation organizations. And those opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment were pleased to include our take on the FMA's mixing of religion and government in all of their materials. We have experienced virtually no resistance to our group's inclusion in these coalitions, and none expressed any trepidation regarding aligning themselves with an atheist lobbyist. The simple fact that atheists are now a part of these established political communities is, I think, progress in itself.
Our reception by viewers of right wing media has been less welcoming. The hate e-mail came fast and furious after my appearances on Fox's The O'Reilly Factor. (Less vehement responses followed appearances on John Gibson's The Big Story and Tucker Carlson's The Situation.) However, my television appearances also resulted in new support from some viewers.
Media exposure in USA Today, Mother Jones magazine, and numerous other print and radio appearances resulted in positive feedback and additional support. My speaking engagements with groups like the Northern Virginia Ethical Society, and our active support at events regarding discrimination against atheists in the Boy Scouts of America and the military (Atheists in Foxholes), have also garnered the Secular Coalition for America broad support.
We are all especially fortunate that Ron Millar came on board as legislative assistant for a six-month internship on a very small stipend. His research, writing and administrative work have made it possible for me to be an effective lobbyist and media spokesperson. So effective, in fact, that the board of the Secular Coalition for America has agreed to continue its fundraising towards a level which will allow us to offer Dr. Millar a permanent position when he finishes his six month commitment. Both Ron and I have agreed to work for a much smaller salary than would normally be offered for this type of work because we are passionately committed to securing constitutionally guaranteed separation of church and state. We are also committed to combating society's denigration of atheists, humanists, freethinkers, and other nontheists. In fact, our business cards (as well as our brochures) specify our constituencies on them: "Atheists. Humanists. Freethinkers. Americans." While it may be the first time these Congress members and their staffs have ever received a business card which specifies "atheists" on it, not one has ever flinched or in any way treated me with any less respect than any of my religious colleagues who work on these issues. We are already making tremendous progress.
No end of the year update from a fledgling non-profit organization would be complete without a request for money. I am especially thankful for our many donors, all of whom are giving to a political group -- a donation which is NOT tax deductible. This means you care enough about our goals to support the political, non-tax-deductible part of the effort. We applaud you. By we, I include the all-volunteer national board of the Secular Coalition for America, as well as Ron and myself. Please, help us continue the effort we have just begun. Help us make it possible to keep both staff members working at this for the long haul. Please visit our support page to make an online donation, or mail a check to:
Secular Coalition for America
P.O. Box 53330
Washington, D.C. 20009-9997
Thank you again for helping to make our first three months so productive.
Sincerely,
Lori Lipman Brown
Director, Secular Coalition for America