Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc.
Vol. 39 No. 05 June/July 2022
FFRF launches ‘secular values voters’ ad blitz
Arizona
FFRF Member Zenaido Quintano will be featured in a full-page ad in the Arizona Republic on July 3. He’ll be identified as “a retired corporate executive, small business owner, great-grandfather, native Arizonian . . . and Humanist.” The description will also appear in Spanish: “Soy ejecutivo corporativo jubilado, propietario de una pequeña empresa, bisabuelo, nativo de Arizona. . . y Humanista.” His billboard, in Spanish, will be at 7th Avenue, south of Polk Street.
Maine
Maine chapter leader Tom Waddell is pictured in the upcoming July 3 ad running in the Augusta newspaper, Maine Sunday Telegram. His identification reads: “Vietnam combat veteran, FFRF chapter director, Mainer . . . and Atheist.”
Nevada
FFRF Member Tamami Tokutake represents FFRF in upcoming ad in the Reno Gazette, in which she’s described as “a Mom, retired tech program manager, artist, Nevadan . . . and an Atheist.” She will also be on a billboard on South Virginia Street near Mt. Rose Street.
Connecticut
FFRF Member Suzanne Flathers will represent FFRF in its July 3 full-page ad in the Hartford Courant. She is described as “Grandmother, contract specialist, gardener, lifelong Nutmeg . . . and Atheist.” Her billboard is on Allyn Street, east of Union Place.
Minnesota
Lifetime Members Steve Petersen and Shirley R. Moll of St. Paul represent FFRF in the ad appearing on July 3 in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Shirley is described as “a mom, grandmother and great-grandmother, Minnesotan and . . . Atheist.” Steve is described as “a retired letter carrier, student of life, Minnesotan . . . and Atheist.” They’ll appear in a billboard close to the Capitol building in St. Paul on East 7th Street.
Indiana
Ryan Cadwell, who runs the Central Indiana Chapter of FFRF, represents FFRF in an ad in the Indianapolis Star running on July 3. He is identified as “Husband, father, developer, Hoosier . . . Freethinker.” He will be on a billboard placed near 8300 North Bash St., Indianapolis.
Tennessee
Carl and Aleta Ledendecker, who runs the East Tennessee FFRF chapter, represent Tennessee in FFRF’s campaign. Their photo will also appear in the July 3 Tennesseean, along with description identifying Carl as “a retired educator, volunteer, Tennessean . . . and Secular Humanist,” and Aleta as a “retired Montessori educator, volunteer, Tennessean . . . and Atheist.”
Georgia
Black Nonbelievers Founder and President Mandisa Thomas will appear in an ad in the Atlanta Constitution on July 3, in which she is described as “Mother, activist, organizer, longtime Peach . . . and Atheist.” Her billboard is at Courtland St. and JW Dobbs Ave.
Pennsylvania
Tom Schottmiller and Margaret Downey, both Lifetime Members of FFRF, are identified in the upcoming Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper ad on July 3 as “proud Pennsylvanians, married 48 years, parents, grandparents, lovers of science reason, critical thinking . . . and happily Atheist.” Margaret will appear in “I’m atheist and I vote” ads on kiosks in downtown Philly.
New York
FFRF Members Mira and David Peck will represent FFRF in its secular values voter ad in the Albany Times Union. Their respective descriptions in the July 3 ad will read: “Dave is a retired high school science teacher, father, Empire State citizen . . . and Atheist,” and “Mira is a retired corporate exec, mother, Empire State citizen . . . and Atheist.” Their billboard will go up at NY2 at 2nd Avenue on the roof.
Oregon
Cheryl Kolbe, a member of FFRF’s Executive Board, is identified as “a mother, grandmother, hiker, longtime Oregonian . . . and an Atheist” in the newspaper ad running in the Oregonian on July 3. (A similar ad is expected to run in the capital city of Salem in the future.) Cheryl will also appear on a billboard in Portland on NE Portland Hwy. near Simpson Street.
Virginia
FFRF Board Member David Tamayo and Hypatia Alexandria, founders of Hispanic American Freethinkers, will appear in a secular values voter ad in the Richmond Times on July 3 and on a 14×48 bulletin billboard on I-95 and 1401 Commerce Road, Richmond.
California
Dulce Solorzano, identified as “a college student, human rights activist, Californian . . . and Agnostic,” will be featured in FFRF’s Sunday, July 3 ad in the Sacramento Bee, and on a billboard going up in late June on K Street and 20th, Sacramento.
Wisconsin
Brent Michael Davids.
Lewis L. Foerster is identified as “a father, veteran, president of Unfettered Freethinkers of South Bend, Washingtonian . . . and a Humanist.” Linda M. Foerster is identified as “a wife, daughter, friend, Washingtonian . . and a Freethinker.” They are featured in the upcoming July 3 ad in the Olympian as well as a billboard.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is utilizing its distinguished membership in a timely and vital national “I’m Secular and I vote” ad campaign beginning over the July 4 weekend, and finishing by Constitution Day, Sept. 15.
“The midterm elections will be critical to policies affecting the separation of state and church and individual liberties,” says Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president.
Adds FFRF Co-President Dan Barker: “Let’s put the public candidates and officials on notice that nonreligious, secular voters are here, that WE are the true ‘values voters’ and that it’s time that our secular viewpoint be heard and represented.”
FFRF will be featuring one FFRF member per state (or couples, in some cases) in full-page ads in daily newspapers in state capitals on Sunday, July 3. To extend the life of the campaign, a companion billboard will also go up, with a few exceptions. To hit larger metropolitan areas, FFRF is also running ads in Portland, Ore., Philadelphia and Chicago, and will be taking ads in The New York Times, USA Today and Washington Post.
Typical of the ad is the one running in the Chicago Tribune on July 3 featuring “Friendly Atheist” blogger and writer Hemant Mehta (see ad on Page 16).
Each ad features the photo of a local FFRF member, most taken in front of their state Capitol building, and a description about them. The text reads:
“I’m one of more than 75 million secular Americans who are not religious. The ‘Nones’ (those of us unaffiliated with religion) are now 29 percent of the U.S. population. We’re the largest ‘denomination’ by religious identification!
“As a secular voter, I trust in reason, science and America’s secular Constitution.
“I want Congress, my state Legislature, my public officials and our courts to:
• “Keep religion out of government and social policy.
• “Keep religion out of public schools.
• “Keep religion out of bedrooms, personal lives and health care decisions, including when or whether to have children, and whom to love or marry.
• “Use my tax dollars only for evidence-based, not faith-based, purposes.
“If you agree with me, please vote your secular values.”
The ad encourages secular voters to join FFRF. It also links to the results of FFRF’s impressive secular values voter survey. (ffrf.org/valuesvoter)
“We’re so proud of and grateful to the individuals who have stepped forward to be part of this important, election-year statement of secular values,” adds Gaylor.
Future issues of Freethought Today will carry updates about the continuing campaign.
FFRF thanks members, particularly donors to its advertising fund, for making possible this campaign. If you’re interested in being part of this campaign, please see the accompanying story.
Participants still needed
FFRF is looking for members interested in representing FFRF in its “I’m Secular and I Vote” campaign in remaining states. FFRF is seeking a cross-section of U.S. citizens demographically, by age (18 and up), gender, race, sex, ethnicity, etc. They must be registered voters. (To aid in representing younger freethinkers, members may wish to recruit freethinking, voting-age children or grandchildren.)
Volunteers commit to obtain two different sets of photographs: one ideally in front of their state Capitol (possibly substituting a different iconic site). It’s helpful if you live near your capital city or are willing to travel there. The second photograph is a studio portrait taken for commercial use for the billboard. FFRF will reimburse for reasonable photographic fees. FFRF will provide a modest scholarship for students-only who participate. FFRF will finalize photographic and other details by the end of July and is seeking individuals who can follow through and meet deadlines, since the campaign involves contract commitments.
FFRF is still seeking a representative in these states: Alabama; Alaska; Arkansas; Delaware; Hawaii; Idaho; Kansas; Michigan; Mississippi; Missouri; Montana, Nebraska; New Hampshire; New Jersey, New Mexico; North Dakota; Oklahoma; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island, South Carolina; South Dakota; Utah; West Virginia and Wyoming.
If you’re interested, please fill out an application form and read more about it at: secularvote.ffrf.org.
