Out Campaign

The scarlet 'A'

The Out Campaign is a public awareness initiative for freethought and atheism. It was initiated by Dr. R. Elisabeth Cornwell, Executive Director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, and is endorsed by Richard Dawkins, who is a prominent atheist.^[1][2] The campaign aims to create more openness about being an atheist by providing a means by which atheists can identify themselves to others by displaying the movement's scarlet "A". It encourages those who wish to be part of the campaign to come out and re-appropriate, in a humorous way, the social stigma that in some places^[which?] persists against atheism, by branding themselves with a scarlet letter.

“	... there is a big closet population of atheists who need to come out.	”
—Richard Dawkins, [3]

R. Elisabeth Cornwell has stated that the gay rights movement was a source of inspiration for the campaign.^[4] The campaign, however, encourages one to "out" only oneself; it invites atheists to:

• Reach out and talk to others about atheism and help spread a positive view of atheism
• Speak out about their own beliefs and values without feeling intimidated, thus helping people realize that atheists don't fit stereotypes and are a very diverse group
• Keep out, meaning to promote the idea that religion should be kept out of public schools and government, and that nobody's religious agenda should be allowed to intimidate
• Stand out and become visible in their communities and become involved.

Artwork from T-shirt sleeve

The campaign produces discreet attire that is centered around the scarlet "A", and the term "OUT" which is usually typographically isolated from the rest of the containing phrase. There is no overt mention of atheism other than the use of the symbols. The "A" is one of the most popular symbols for atheism in current usage.^[5] Nonetheless, American Christian organizations have begun to respond: the campaign has even been called "a wake-up call" for Christians.^[6]

The campaign currently produces t-shirts, hoodies, bumper stickers, stickers, and lapel pins sold through Richard Dawkins's online store, with the proceeds going to the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science.^[7]

See also

Atheism portal

• Brights movement
• New Atheism

References

1. ^ http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/component/content/article/37-static/887-the-amazing-meeting-8-2010-speakers-and-performers.html
2. ^ "The Out Campaign (original announcement)". The Official Richard Dawkins Website. 2007-07-30. http://richarddawkins.net/article,1471,The-Out-Campaign,Richard-Dawkins. Retrieved 2007-12-30. 
3. ^ MacAskill, Ewen (2007-10-01). "Atheists arise: Dawkins spreads the A-word among America's unbelievers". Guardian Unlimited. The Guardian. http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,,2180660,00.html. Retrieved 2007-12-30. 
4. ^ Chittenden, Maurice; Waite, Roger (2007-12-23). "Dawkins to preach atheism to US". The Sunday Times. Times Newspapers Ltd.. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article3087486.ece. Retrieved 2007-12-30. 
5. ^ "Symbols of atheism". http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Symbols_of_atheism. Retrieved 2011-09-3. 
6. ^ "Dawkin's [SIC] Call to Atheists 'in the Closet' is a Christian Wake-Up Call". ChristianPost.com. The Christian Post. 2007-08-11. http://www.christianpost.com/article/20070811/28864_Dawkin's_Call_to_Atheists_'in_the_Closet'_is_a_Christian_Wake-Up_Call.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-30. 
7. ^ "OUT Campaign Launched, 'Scarlet Letter' Shirts Now Available!". RichardDawkins.net. 2007-07-28. http://richarddawkins.net/article,1467,OUT-Campaign-Launched-Scarlet-Letter-Shirts-Now-Available,RichardDawkinsnet. Retrieved 2007-12-30. 

External links

• The Out Campaign
• Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science
• Dogma Free America podcast interview with Josh Timonen, organizer of the Out Campaign