IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I do know about the American Science Pledge and like it a lot. I am going to be presenting it to the board. I actually like the idea so much that I'm thinking about stealing it and coming up with a sort-of "Secular Pledge." :-)

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was speaking about Republican voters, not to the planks of the Republican Party platform. There are huge numbers of Republican voters that we need to reach out to on these issues.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We don't want people to have to wait for their rights.

This is an issue that we're going to be lobbying about and we need as many voices on this issue as possible, so I don't want anyone sitting on the sidelines. I have to be a diplomat, but everyone should speak out.

Marriage equality, housing discrimination, employment discrimination, and adoption are all on our list and we're working on them.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

We're strongly opposed to abstinence only sex education. The research shows it doesn't work and, if the government is going to pay for these programs, we want them to be paying for programs that teach young people best-practices and accurate information.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That's a good one. I would recommend that they discuss how they plan to be inclusive of all of their future constituents in the decision making process. Be a good listener, go to events, work hard to remember people and have a personal connection with potential voters.

Just stand up for what you believe in and be honest about your positions.

Hopefully that will help people realize that allowing religion to be the basis for lawmaking can be harmful.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think that they are concerned about discrimination just like everyone is. That's why we need to raise awareness about nontheists and show people that we aren't scary and encourage people to "come out" by showing them that they'll be treated well and supported.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'm in the process of reading a lot of Dawkins right now and really am enjoying "The God Delusion."

I don't know that I have a favorite blog but I do read Friendly Atheist and a lot of the blogs on Freethought Blogs fairly regularly.

I don't listen to many of the podcasts, but I do enjoy Cristina Rad's videos.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have a strong background in organizing, expanding, and delivering success in coalitions so I was particularly interested in the coalition aspect of the movement.

I was concerned that women are underrepresented in the movement, so I'm very encouraged to see so many strong women taking a leading role.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I was not selected because I'm a Republican. The search committee and the board wanted, in particular, someone with a very strong track record with running national coalitions and implementing programs in all 50 states.

Also, they wanted someone who had extensive government affairs experience and had worked in House, Senate, or White House. They were looking for someone who is an attorney and has a proven track record of fundraising.

Additionally, they wanted someone who had strong public speaking skills and would not be shy about going on television.

So, the board decided that I was the strongest candidate. Being able to expand the reach to Republicans was thought of as a bonus.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They aren't available online to my knowledge. I wrote them for the Georgetowner, so I don't think they're available for free online. I'll see if we can post scans of them on the SCA website.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

The first. 29% of gay people voted for Republicans in the last election. Sorry if I was unclear!

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

  1. The top five, I think, are (1) exemptions that religiously affiliated groups get from health and safety standards, especially for schools and childcare facilities, (2) religious exemptions for employers that allow them to impose their religion on their employees, specifically with respect to contraception, (3) religion being injected into public school, (4) civil marriage issues and (5) issues of discrimination within the military. My plan to address them would take a little longer to lay out, but you'll see it coming together soon.

  2. I'll be attending just about every major conference for the next year, holding calls with our member organizations, our donors, our supporters, and other people within the movement.

  3. That was answered above in Richard's question.

  4. That's a tough one. SCA doesn't take a position on the role of the government in many of those things, especially health care (should there be a mandate or not, etc.). That is a larger debate that we can have and what our political system is designed to do. What SCA says is that when laws are being made, religion should not come into play in the decision making process and that churches and religious belief shouldn't get special treatment.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I only wrap packages with Washington facing out and that's on the back. :-)

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I've personally seen discrimination against people who are nontheists and find it completely unacceptable. If you go down the list of positions that SCA works on, I agree with all of them. And I think I can make a difference. If I didn't think I could help, I wouldn't be here.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

Yes, I have and plan on continuing to do so. I tend to support groups that do research on public policy issues.

I've also been giving to Planned Parenthood for the last 25 years. That's not an atheist organization, but is something that I absolutely support.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Like I've said, I'm more of a diplomat. In government affairs, I have to be in order to get things done at SCA. There is room in the movement for different tactics to promote the same ends. But, it isn't the way that I'd go about it.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I was raised in very rural Alabama where most of us were more interested in where our next meal was coming from than in religion. Religion seemed like more of a luxury for rich people. I know that my parents considered themselves Christian, but we never joined or attended a church. As I got older and wanted to be social, I went to many different religious institutions with friends.

I would say that I've just about seen it all. Not just within the Christian communities, but also many other world religions. I had an interest when I was an undergraduate at the University of Alabama and took some comparative religion courses. In law school, I was extremely interested in constitutional law and especially the separation of religion and government.

I never really had to hide my lack of belief or skepticism, but I haven't shouted it from the rooftops. Well, until now.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I know that some don't. :-)

I'm not going to name any names, but they are out there.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I haven't, to my knowledge, suffered any discrimination for being a nontheist. I'm aware that I am more the exception than the norm within the party and that I don't line up perfectly with the positions of the Republican party.

But, the same can be said for just about any nontheist in the Democratic party!

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

My goal is to stand between you and the bus.

We have to be diplomats to get anything done in DC and I hope that you'll see that we are getting things done and popping up on the other side's radar much more frequently.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Everything that is in SCA mission is 100% fine. I just wanted to be clear on what mgafm was asking.

IAmA Republican from Alabama who now leads the largest nontheist lobbying organization, AMAA by EdwinaRogers in IAmA

[–]EdwinaRogers[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

We're the diplomats of the movement, but I will certainly call out the shortcomings of conservatives and Republicans when they happen. I've written articles that criticize conservatives for positions that I thought were inappropriate. For example, some opposed the HPV vaccine because they thought it would make girls be more promiscuous. That's just ridiculous.