Press Release

Humanists Flock to Sin City, AHA Honors Dennett, Newdow, and the Gersteins

For Immediate Release - Contact: Roy Speckhardt at (202) 238-9088

(Washington, D.C., May 7, 2004) Humanists from all across the nation have arrived in Las Vegas for the weekend-long conference of the American Humanist Association (AHA). “Humanism has never been more challenged by the regressive attitudes of institutionalized extremism that are aligned foursquare against us and threaten our progressive lifestance,” states Tony Hileman, executive director of the AHA.

This gathering, in which the theme is “Oasis in the Desert,” will shine a Humanist light on the disparaging trend of the violation of church-state separation, current threats to civil liberties, women’s rights, and same-sex marriage.

A special lineup of ”sin” sessions will address the sex industry and whether “sin” is an outmoded concept. Among those speaking will be Edd Doerr, president of Americans for Religious Liberty; Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists; and the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State.

AHA welcomes three prominent 2004 awardees: This year’s recipient of the prestigious Humanist of the Year award is philosopher, Daniel C. Dennett, director and professor of philosophy at the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. The Humanist Pioneer Award goes to Michael Newdow, the leader of the Supreme Court battle to return the Pledge of Allegiance to its secular form and to Barbara and Joseph Gerstein, leaders of Self Management and Recovery Training (SMART). Aileen Hernandez, past president of the National Organization for Women will also be recognized for her dedication to humanistic causes.

Nadine Strossen, president of the American Civil Liberties Union will also receive the Religious Liberty Award from Americans for Religious Liberty for her work as a civil rights activist and lawyer.

The American Humanist Association is the oldest and largest Humanist organization in the nation. The AHA is dedicated to ensuring a voice for those with a positive nontheistic outlook, based on reason and experience, which embraces all of humanity .

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