Lori Lipman Brown Addresses Bergen Society

Lori Lipman Brown, Director of the Secular Coalition for America, addressed the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday. Ms. Brown described three years of ups and downs since the 2005 activation of the SCA, the national lobby representing the interests of atheists, humanists, agnostics, freethinkers and other nontheistic Americans. During this time the SCA's staff has grown from one to five (including two part-timers). By and large, according to Ms. Brown, her efforts have been respectfully received by members of congress, their staffers and the general public.

In light of the presidential election, the SCA has published an online resource for where the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates stand on issues important to secular voters and their allies. The website, Secular Values Voter (tm) Resources is a potent source of information that can be used to compare the positions of the major party candidates.

Also touted during her address is the SCA's Action Alert page, which can notify interested citizens of opportunities to influence elected officials on federal legislation affecting the rights and values of nontheistic Americans. This reporter can attest to the ease and discretion surrounding this service. If you want to have an impact, sign up for the Action Alert page.

The Platform was attended by an estimated 70 people.

Lori Lipman Brown on Colbert Report

Lori Lipman Brown, Director and chief lobbyist of the Secular Coalition for America, is hot! In addition to her earlier appearance on the O'Reilly Factor, she recently appeared on the Colbert Report's Better Know a Lobby segment (6:56):


and (1:22):


Stephen Colbert's first order of business is to develop (often absurd) comic situations for the benefit of his audience. Unlike mainstream "serious" interviewers he frequently uses the interviewee as a foil for his gags. This irreverent approach lets America laugh at itself, often at the direct expense of a prominent and serious minded public personality.

Lori is in very good company insofar as Colbert has done this with senators, congresspersons, governors and the like. In the 5 1/2 minute aired portion of Lori's interview for example, he quickly steered the topic to Lori's lobbying efforts on behalf of sex education so he could then sidle his way to sex. He followed that with a rendition of God Bless America, which framed nicely, one must agree, with his earlier attempt to swear in Lori on a bible. Very funny stuff.

Lori held up well, exhibiting the patience and professionalism that has been so effective in her nascent role as America's chief nontheist lobbyist. With their logo displayed repeatedly on this highly popular late night television show, the Secular Coalition for America's mission statement was excerpted in an on-screen graphic: "...to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government".

Lori was able to tell America that the SCA was created "because nontheists felt they needed a voice in Congress [as] they ... watch[ed] their tax dollars ... spent on faith-based schemes", including "children learn[ing] bible stories in science class". All the gags and silliness aside, this is the kind of publicity the doctor ordered. Well done, Lori!

Lori Lipman Brown is scheduled to address the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, September 21, 2008, at 11:00AM.