The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), the largest organization championing freethought in the United States, has recently dissolved its honorary board after three prominent members resigned due to a dispute over transgender rights.
Among those stepping down were esteemed figures in the scientific community: evolutionary biologists Richard Dawkins and Jerry Coyne, along with psychologist and linguist Steven Pinker.
Controversy and Resignations
The controversy began when the foundation published an article by Coyne that presented a predominantly binary view of sex and made contentious assertions about transgender women and sexual predation.
This piece faced substantial backlash from various groups and was removed just a day after its release on December 28.
The resignations of Dawkins, Coyne, and Pinker followed swiftly, prompting the FFRF to disband its 14-member honorary board.
This episode underscores the ongoing strife within segments of the New Atheist movement, where some individuals hold anti-transgender and broadly anti-“woke” perspectives.
Such views have drawn criticism even within the wider nonbeliever community.
For instance, in 2021, the American Humanist Association withdrew its “Humanist of the Year” award from Dawkins due to his comments regarding transgender rights.
Organizational Response and Commitment
Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the FFRF, acknowledged the organization’s error in publishing and later retracting Coyne’s article.
She indicated that a better understanding of the honorary board members’ roles in article publication was necessary and that the foundation is currently reevaluating its editorial policies.
Gaylor admitted her initial belief that a simple disclaimer sufficed to clarify that the views expressed were not those of the foundation was misguided.
Established in 1978 by Annie Laurie Gaylor and her mother, Anne Nicol Gaylor, the FFRF has grown to encompass around 40,000 members across North America.
The organization staunchly advocates for the rights of atheists and agnostics, gaining recognition for its robust legal advocacy concerning the separation of church and state, frequently alerting schools and government bodies to violations.
Recently, the foundation has allied with several organizations to challenge a Louisiana law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
Additionally, it is suing Oklahoma’s State Superintendent for promoting a Christian-based curriculum in public schools.
Community Support and Future Outlook
Coyne has commented on the controversy, noting that the foundation’s actions seem contradictory for an organization that professes to uphold scientific principles.
He expressed concerns that the FFRF was acting similarly to religious groups that suppress dissenting opinions, dubbing opposing views as blasphemous.
While Coyne asserts his support for the legal rights of transgender individuals, he disagrees with their participation in women’s sports and believes they should not be involved in certain supportive services due to his controversial views on potential predatory behavior.
In the midst of these debates, Gaylor highlighted that a substantial majority of the FFRF’s members—97%—support LGBTQ+ rights, with 13% identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
She reiterated the organization’s commitment to fighting for civil rights for these populations, especially in the current climate of rising Christian nationalism, which poses risks to transgender rights.
Looking ahead, Gaylor emphasized that the foundation did not instigate this conflict, expressing gratitude for the contributions of the departing board members and suggesting their exit was perhaps unavoidable.
Source: Religionnews
