Non-religious Americans hire lobbyist in Washington; Former Nevada State Senator to Lobby for Secularism
– A coalition of non-religious organizations has hired the first lobbyist in Washington D. C. to represent the rights of "Godless" Americans. On Sept. 19, former Nevada State Senator Lori Lipman Brown will begin her duties as director/lobbyist of the Secular Coalition for America
Albany, NY (PRWEB) August 27, 2005
A coalition of non-religious organizations has hired the first lobbyist in Washington D. C. to represent the rights of humanists, atheists and other freethinkers.
On Sept. 19, former Nevada State Senator Lori Lipman Brown will begin her duties as director/lobbyist of the Secular Coalition for America (SCA). The SCA is a 501(c)(4) lobbying organization in Washington D. C. dedicated to advancing secularism at the federal level. As director, Brown will focus her energies on lobbying and coalition building.
"Bias against nonbelievers is the last civil rights struggle in which blatant discrimination by politicians is viewed as acceptable behavior," said Herb Silverman, president of the Secular Coalition for America. "That situation is about to change."
As a Nevada state senator, from 1992 to 1994, Brown worked to pass 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. She has taught Constitutional Law in college.
"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," Brown said. "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."
"The 2006 mid-term congressional elections could decide the future of chuch/state separation in the United States. 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," said Tim Gordinier, public policy director of the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS). The IHS 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.
The Institute for Humanist Studies is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Albany, N. Y. Other coalition members include the American Humanist Association, the Atheist Alliance International, the Internet Infidels and the Secular Student Alliance; the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers is an honorary member.
For information, visit www. HumanistStudies. org and www. secular. org.
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