Dave Silverman Life Fund
Donation protected
Hi everyone,
My name is David Silverman, best known as the former President of American Atheists. I’m an activist, a fan of lobster, the creator of the Reason Rally (the largest atheist event in world history), the face behind the “Are You Serious” meme, and most importantly, a father. More information about me can be found at https://www.firebrandforgood.com/.
During my 23-year personal quest to protect individual liberties and religious rights for atheists, I appeared on dozens of TV shows including the CNN Special Inside Atheism, The O’Reilly Factor (where the meme was born), Hannity, Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Nick News, and many others. In an effort to do good, I was the first to establish comprehensive codes of conduct to atheist conventions; the first to do the same with gender-neutral bathrooms; the first to bring atheism to conservatives; the first to specifically champion women speaker equality in convention lineups; the first atheist leader to shout down those who were harassing women (“Speaking Out Against Hate Directed at Women”); the first to lead an atheist contingent at a pro-choice rally; the first to speak as an atheist leader at a marriage equality rally, the first atheist leader to speak at an ERA rally.
I have been a feminist my entire life, and it’s a title I still hold close, even as the term has been tainted. I therefore now refer to myself as a "Liberal Feminist", to emphasize the egalitarian "2nd wave" Feminism, as opposed to the more toxic modern version. Because Humanism.
In 2018, I was fired due to false allegations of sexual misconduct by two women, concerning events that happened 3 and 6 years prior. No investigation preceded my termination. I was perp-walked out of my office without even a moment of consideration that the allegations might be wrong. Additionally, American Atheists claimed I was fired for vague other reasons never defined, further injuring my ability to find a job elsewhere. AA performed a forensic audit which cleared me, but they refuse to release the audit or clear my name. In the end, an abhorrent version of the very same feminism I have been defending for decades is what destroyed me, not because I was caught doing something wrong, but because women lied about sexual assault and everyone believed them, without skepticism, despite the witnesses, pictures, and even recordings that disprove the allegations (none of the evidence in my favor was ever heard, let alone considered). “Believe All Women” was a banner I proudly carried... until it destroyed me.
Like many in the now famous ‘Intellectual Dark Web,’ I’ve been slandered by those claiming to stand against bigotry and mistreatment. I fought for women’s rights for decades, only to see that movement taken over by extremists hoping to make a career/name out of ruining people’s lives, even if they are staunch life-long supporters like me. The ideology of these extremists has seeped into many communities that I cherished, sadly, including the American Atheist movement.
I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs in the past year, but once they google me, they don’t call back. I have turned to insurance sales as an independent contractor to earn a living, but that takes months or years to generate a decent income. I live off my now-dwindling 401K.
I’m asking for your support. I intend to send a message to corporate America and female bad actors: Due process is not optional, civil rights are not to be dismissed, and every claim against anyone must be substantiated before you fire them (duh). Women must be believed at first, but claims of victimhood must be verified.
This is our fight. The Far Left is not evil - they just got lost in their attempt to make the world better and in doing so have created an atmosphere of anti-skepticism and the inevitable abuse that follows. I'm still here, doing my best to do my part. Please help.
My name is David Silverman, best known as the former President of American Atheists. I’m an activist, a fan of lobster, the creator of the Reason Rally (the largest atheist event in world history), the face behind the “Are You Serious” meme, and most importantly, a father. More information about me can be found at https://www.firebrandforgood.com/.
During my 23-year personal quest to protect individual liberties and religious rights for atheists, I appeared on dozens of TV shows including the CNN Special Inside Atheism, The O’Reilly Factor (where the meme was born), Hannity, Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Nick News, and many others. In an effort to do good, I was the first to establish comprehensive codes of conduct to atheist conventions; the first to do the same with gender-neutral bathrooms; the first to bring atheism to conservatives; the first to specifically champion women speaker equality in convention lineups; the first atheist leader to shout down those who were harassing women (“Speaking Out Against Hate Directed at Women”); the first to lead an atheist contingent at a pro-choice rally; the first to speak as an atheist leader at a marriage equality rally, the first atheist leader to speak at an ERA rally.
I have been a feminist my entire life, and it’s a title I still hold close, even as the term has been tainted. I therefore now refer to myself as a "Liberal Feminist", to emphasize the egalitarian "2nd wave" Feminism, as opposed to the more toxic modern version. Because Humanism.
In 2018, I was fired due to false allegations of sexual misconduct by two women, concerning events that happened 3 and 6 years prior. No investigation preceded my termination. I was perp-walked out of my office without even a moment of consideration that the allegations might be wrong. Additionally, American Atheists claimed I was fired for vague other reasons never defined, further injuring my ability to find a job elsewhere. AA performed a forensic audit which cleared me, but they refuse to release the audit or clear my name. In the end, an abhorrent version of the very same feminism I have been defending for decades is what destroyed me, not because I was caught doing something wrong, but because women lied about sexual assault and everyone believed them, without skepticism, despite the witnesses, pictures, and even recordings that disprove the allegations (none of the evidence in my favor was ever heard, let alone considered). “Believe All Women” was a banner I proudly carried... until it destroyed me.
Like many in the now famous ‘Intellectual Dark Web,’ I’ve been slandered by those claiming to stand against bigotry and mistreatment. I fought for women’s rights for decades, only to see that movement taken over by extremists hoping to make a career/name out of ruining people’s lives, even if they are staunch life-long supporters like me. The ideology of these extremists has seeped into many communities that I cherished, sadly, including the American Atheist movement.
I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs in the past year, but once they google me, they don’t call back. I have turned to insurance sales as an independent contractor to earn a living, but that takes months or years to generate a decent income. I live off my now-dwindling 401K.
I’m asking for your support. I intend to send a message to corporate America and female bad actors: Due process is not optional, civil rights are not to be dismissed, and every claim against anyone must be substantiated before you fire them (duh). Women must be believed at first, but claims of victimhood must be verified.
This is our fight. The Far Left is not evil - they just got lost in their attempt to make the world better and in doing so have created an atmosphere of anti-skepticism and the inevitable abuse that follows. I'm still here, doing my best to do my part. Please help.
Fundraising team (2)
David P Silverman
Organizer
Seattle, WA
Thomas Sheedy
Team member