The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s 48th Annual Convention in Myrtle Beach, S.C., held Oct. 16-19 was a vibrant reminder that reason and constitutional principles have the power to move hearts as well as stir activism. From Friday’s opening anthem to Saturday night’s standing-room-only finale, the weekend brought together more than 500 secular activists, scholars and performers for two inspiring days of education, laughter and solidarity.

Friday: Freethought and facts
After a late afternoon reception on Thursday, the formal program opened Friday as Dan Barker led the crowd in “Die Gedanken Sind Frei,” the historic 15th-century freethought anthem. FFRF Events Manager Sadie Pattinson kept the energy high with a spirited roll call of the 43 states (plus Washington, D.C.) represented. Matthew Krevat, president of FFRF’s Triangle Chapter in North Carolina, provided a brief pitch on how to find FFRF chapters across the nation. Herb Silverman, president emeritus of the Secular Coalition for America, gave a short South Carolina welcome,“Being an Atheist in South Carolina,” blending humor with reflection on decades of activism in the Bible Belt for representation and secular government. He received the 2025 “Freethinker of the Year” Award. FFRF Co-Presidents Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker followed with their annual “Highlights of the Year,” celebrating major legal victories, FFRF’s significant scholarship program and other outreach and FFRF’s record number of over 42,000 current members. The Godless Gospel singers — Candace Gorham, Cynthia McDonald and Mandisa Thomas — joined Barker for the first of three songs, performing “It’s Only Natural.” Their soulful harmonies turned the ballroom into a celebration of joy without religion.

Defending rights and democracy
The first major award of the weekend, the Henry Zumach Freedom From Fundamentalist Religion Award (otherwise known as the “FFRF” Award), honored the Center for Reproductive Rights, with Nancy Northup, president and CEO, accepting the $50,000 ally award on behalf of the center. In “Defending Today, Building for Tomorrow,” Northup traced the global rollback of reproductive freedoms since Dobbs v. Jackson and proclaimed: “Each vote is a story of courage and conscience. Each ballot cast is a reminder that no matter how fierce the opposition, the majority of Americans do stand for reproductive freedom.”

Author and investigative journalist Katherine Stewart followed with “Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy.” Drawing on her powerful new exposé, “Money, Lies and God,” Stewart connected dark money, religious lobbying and authoritarian politics, warning, “The concrete is being poured — but it hasn’t hardened yet.” She urged secular Americans to build coalitions and defend democracy at every level.

FFRF’s legal team — represented by Legal Director Patrick Elliott, Deputy Legal Director Liz Cavell, Senior Counsel Sam Grover and Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence — then reported on FFRF’s major legal advocacy, including the 10 lawsuits FFRF has filed in the past year to protect the separation of church and state. State Policy Manager Ryan Dudley and Governmental Affairs Director Mark Dann summarized FFRF’s important growing legislative advocacy.

Oklahoma state Rep. Mickey Dollens, who also serves as FFRF’s regional governmental affairs manager, subsequently introduced his F.O.R.W.A.R.D. framework, a practical guide to citizen-driven political change emphasizing: Facts, Opportunity, Rights, Workforce development, Accountability, Respect and Democracy. His upbeat approach drew a standing ovation. Next, FFRF honored Dr. Maggie Carpenter, who is under extradition by the state of Louisiana for prescribing medication abortion to a patient there, with the Forward Award for her courage and achievements, broadcasting an exclusive interview between Dr. Carpenter and Annie Laurie.

The evening featured a chance to socialize at dinner and was followed by the sharp wit of musical satirist Roy Zimmerman, who set the stage for one of the convention’s most anticipated speakers: Mary L. Trump. Receiving FFRF’s Emperor Has No Clothes Award, the psychologist and bestselling author of “Too Much and Never Enough” examined the psychology of authoritarianism and the emotional manipulation fueling Christian nationalism.

“We must refuse at every step along the way to be silenced,” she said. “We must continue to resist no matter the cost and we must reject wholesale their strategy.”

Trump’s candor and humor brought the crowd to its feet before she signed books and chatted with attendees at length during a dessert reception.

Saturday: Youth, activism and ‘No Kings’
Saturday began with FFRF’s nontraditional tradition of a Non-Prayer Breakfast — including a tongue-in-cheek “Moment of Bedlam” instead of a moment of silence — and another rousing performance by the Godless Gospel of Barker’s “Let’s All Give Thanks.” (“Not to religion, not to a god, but to the people who’ve made the world a better place for me and you.”)
Then the day’s celebration of student activism began.

• Bailey Harris, a 19-year-old college student, received the $5,000 Diane & Stephen Uhl Memorial Out of God’s Closet Award for her fun children’s books on science. “We are the universe made conscious,” she told the audience.
• Eli Frost, an 18-year-old college student and winner of the $5,000 Beverly & Richard Hermsen Award, shared how he persuaded his Minnesota school district to move graduation out of a megachurch. “Walking that stage in a secular space,” he said, “was one of the best moments of my life.”
• Essayists and top winners in one of FFRF’s five essay competitions for students — Jaianah Hightower, Gabrielle Williams and Mekah’E LeClair — read powerful and poignant essays on the dangers of white Christian nationalism and the resilience of marginalized communities.

Rafida Bonya Ahmed presented the Avijit Roy Courage Award, memorializing her husband killed for his atheism by Islamists in 2015, to Mubarak Bala, president of the Humanists of Nigeria, who joined virtually from Germany. Having endured five years of imprisonment for “blasphemy,” Bala spoke movingly on the right to criticize.

Writer Chrissy Stroop, honored as Freethought Heroine, followed with “Emptying Pews, Evangelicals and the Fight for American Democracy.” “Use cooperation where we can, stay away from coercion,” she said. “And let’s help get there by bringing counternarratives there.”

Secular governance and the battle for democracy
After lunch, the Godless Gospel returned to open the afternoon sessions with a joyful rendition of “Life Is Good,” followed by FFRF’s Third Annual Secular Legislative Panel. Moderated by Ryan Dudley and state Rep. Mickey Dollens, the panel featured Kansas state Rep. Heather Meyer, Minnesota state Rep. Andy Smith and Vermont state Rep. Monique Priestley. Each nonreligious state legislator shared stories of resisting religious extremism in statehouses and the importance of transparency, science and inclusion in policymaking.

New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie then received the Clarence Darrow Award for his clear-eyed writings on democracy and secular governance. The bronze award is a miniature of the statue FFRF erected in front of the Scopes Trial courthouse in Dayton, Tenn., and fittingly, it was handed to him in person by the sculptor Zenos Frudakis. In his spellbinding address, Bouie traced how Christian nationalism shapes political identity and voter behavior.

“I found myself in recent months really going back to the founding vision, not because it’s perfect, not because it’s not without flaw, but because it still stands for something significant and still stands for something meaningful, and the Declaration in particular stands for something significant and stands for something meaningful,” he said.

Harvard political scientist Steven Levitsky, co-author of “How Democracies Die,” closed the afternoon with a sober yet hopeful talk, “The Great Abdication: America’s Descent into Authoritarianism.” He warned that the United States is not immune to authoritarianism but praised civic organizations like FFRF as essential guardrails. “Democracy survives,” he said, “when citizens organize to defend it.”

The group ended the afternoon session with an impromptu “No Kings” photo-op on the day of the “No Kings” rallies around the country.

Celebration, laughter, and a call to action
Saturday evening opened with appreciation. Annie Laurie Gaylor thanked the staff, volunteers, captioner Norma Miller and the AV crew led by Bruce Johnson, before the ever-popular “Clean Money” drawing — featuring vintage U.S. bills printed before “In God We Trust” was added.

Comedian, actor and SiriusXM host John Fugelsang closed the convention with his trademark fusion of humor, history and social commentary. Quoting from his new bestseller “Separate Church and Hate,” Fugelsang took aim at hypocrisy within Christian nationalism.

“The only way to follow both Donald Trump and Jesus,” he quipped, “is if you’ve never read either of their books.”

Blending humor and moral clarity, he called for an alliance between progressive believers and atheists: “We need the Christians who actually follow Christ and we need the atheists who actually follow ethics.”

The ballroom rose in a standing ovation as Fugelsang ended with a benediction fit for a secular congregation: “Whether you pray to God or pray to Google or pray to your morning coffee, we are all being called right now, not to convert each other, we are called to protect each other.”

A weekend to remember
Over a weekend, FFRF’s 48th Annual Convention showcased the full spectrum of secular activism — from young science authors and global human-rights defenders to investigative journalists and comedians with a conscience. The message was clear: The fight for state/church separation is inseparable from the fight for democracy itself.

Attendees left Myrtle Beach energized, inspired and ready to carry the freethought flame forward — proof that reason, empathy and a good sense of humor are the true pillars of a free society.

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