Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc.
Vol. 39 No. 08 October 2022
‘I’m Secular and I vote’ campaign continues
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has just concluded its timely and vital national “I’m Secular and I vote” ad campaign that began the Fourth of July weekend and ended around Constitution Day, Sept. 17.
FFRF featured one member per state (or couples, in some cases) in full-page ads in 45 daily newspapers in state capitals and many larger-circulation Sunday dailies. Companion billboards also went up in those cities.
“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.
Each ad featured the photo of a local FFRF member, most taken in front of their state Capitol building, and a description about them. 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)
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.”
FFRF thanks participants and donors to its advertising fund for making possible this timely campaign about secular values voters.
Louisiana — FFRF Member Joe E. Mills was featured in the ad that ran in the New Orleans Times-Picayune and Baton Rouge Advocate, stating he is “a father, engineer, Louisianan . . . and an Atheist.”
New Mexico — In. the ad that appeared in the Albuquerque Journal, Lifetime Member Weldon Merritt is shown as a secular values voter who is “a Vietnam veteran, New Mexican . . . and an Atheist.”
Rhode Island — The Providence Journal ran the ad with FFRF Member Todd W. Ellison, who says he is “a friend, traveler, cancer survivor, volunteer, longtime Rhode Islander . . .and an Atheist.”
New Mexico — In the ad that ran in the Santa Fe New Mexican, Lifetime Member Sean Gardner is featured, stating “Sean is trans, a writer, and longtime New Mexican . . . and an Atheist.”
West Virginia — FFRF Lifetime Member Jim Haught’s ad ran in the Charleston Gazette-Mail, where he identified as a “retired newspaper editor and a lifelong Mountain Stater . . . and an Atheist.”
Alaska — “I’m a retired business owner, volunteer, friend, longtime Alaskan . . . and an atheist,” says Lifetime Member Julie A. Olsen in her ad that was published in both the Anchorage Daily News and Juneau Empire.
Wyoming — Lifetime Member Marci Shaver of Wyoming appeared in both the Casper Star-Tribune and Wyoming Tribune Eagle in Cheyenne as “mother, grandma, great-grandma, retired business owner, actor, longtime Equality State citizen . . . and an Atheist.”
South Carolina — FFRF Member Melissa Evans was featured in the Charleston Post and Courier and Columbia State as “an executive, student, longtime South Carolinian . . . and an Atheist.”
New Hampshire
The Manchester Union Leader ran the ad on Sept. 18 with FFRF Sponsoring Member Charles Townsend, showing him as “an advocate for public health, longtime Granite Stater . . . and a Freethinker.”
Idaho — Lifetime Member Bruce Johnson appeared in the Boise Idaho Statesman.
