American Humanist Association Joins Secular Coalition for America
Feb. 16, 2005 - The Secular Coalition for America welcomes the American Humanist Association (AHA) as its newest member organization. Based in Washington, D.C., the AHA is expected to play a key role in the Coalition's plans to lobby the U.S. Congress on behalf of America's nonreligious.
"It is terrific to have the American Humanist Association, the oldest and largest humanist organization in the U.S, become the newest member of the Secular Coalition for America," said Coalition president Herb Silverman. "This represents a giant step forward in cooperation among freethought organizations for the benefit of all within the nontheistic community."
The mission of the Secular Coalition for America is to increase the visibility and respectability of nontheistic viewpoints within the larger culture and to protect and strengthen secular government as the best guarantee of freedom for all.
Founded in 1941, the AHA was the issuer of Humanist Manifestoes I, II and III and publishes The Humanist magazine. Chapters and affiliates of the AHA operate in 32 states.
The AHA is the first organization to join as a full member since the Coalition's founding in 2002 as a cooperative venture of the Atheist Alliance International, the Institute for Humanist Studies, the Internet Infidels and the Secular Student Alliance. In 2003 the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers was given honorary membership.
"The AHA is pleased to be a part of the Secular Coalition for America and looks forward to strengthening its already close ties with the other member organizations so that we may work together to advance Humanist aims, address our mutual concerns and make a greater difference on Capitol Hill," said AHA president Mel Lipman.
Related media: "Nonbelievers Organize in Fear of Bush White House and Republican Congress" - Jan. 2005 article on Beliefnet.com prominently features the Secular Coalition for America and member organizations AAI and AHA