The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) and the Northern Ohio Freethought Society recently put up 11 billboards across Akron and Cleveland urging atheists to come out of the closet. The billboards feature the faces of local agnostics, atheists and freethinkers along with their personal testimonials.

“This campaign introduces the Cleveland and Akron community to the atheists and skeptics in their midst. Taking a cue from the gay pride movement, our campaign invites other nonbelievers to share their views and ‘Come out of the closet’,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president, FFRF.

The posters attempt to show religious people and devout believers what atheists look like by citing examples of their values, so non-believers do not seem as scary any longer. They also encourage closet atheists to come out by showing support and reassuring them that they are not alone. Additionally, the posters explain how relating to others over a lack of belief is rather counterintuitive which is why atheists choose not to organize groups and communities, the way that religious people do.

FFRF is America’s largest association of agnostics and atheists with more than 20,000 members and they started the Out of the Closet campaign in Madison in 2010. The organization has since taken the personalized campaign to various parts of the United States including Tulsa, Columbus, Phoenix, Raleigh, Portland, Nashville, Sacramento and Spokane.

“Research shows that atheists and other nonbelievers are still at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to social acceptance. One of the reasons is that even though at least 20% of the population today is nonreligious in the United States, many Americans have never knowingly met an atheist,” said Gaylor.

While it is still unknown how much money has been invested in this campaign, the billboards are here to stay for at least a month.

Photo Credit: FFRF