Anne Gaylor
2016
Feminist · Pro-choice Advocate
A second-generation atheist and aggressive feminist, Anne Gaylor co-founded the Freedom from Religion Foundation, the leading group of religious nonbelievers in the United States today, and for decades was its face and voice. She also co-founded the Women’s Medical Fund, a nonprofit group that provides grants to poor women unable to afford needed abortions. These two issues, freedom from religion and reproductive freedom, were her heart and her soul, saying:
There were many groups working for women's rights, but none of them dealt with the root cause of women's oppression – religion.
Anne Gaylor was a lifelong target of hate mail and death threats, but continued to speak in public venues, including television talk shows hosted by Oprah Winfrey, Tom Snyder, Phil Donahue and Larry King. After one television taping in Philadelphia, an audience member rushed her from behind and put her in a choke hold. Gaylor’s husband broke the attacker’s grip.
Born on a farm near Tomah, Wisconsin, Anne Gaylor received an English degree from UW-Madison, and started Madison’s first temporary office help service. Later she was active in the women’s movement, serving as vice president of the central region of the National Abortion Rights Action League. For three years she and her husband owned and ran the weekly Middleton Times-Tribune. She became the mother of four children.
Seeing religion at the root of much opposition of women, she created the Freedom From Religion Foundation in 1976 with the help of her daughter and a friend. As of 2015, the FFRF had about 23,000 dues-paying members. Anne co-founded the Woman’s Medical Fund in 1972. The Fund has spent millions to provide low-income women with reproductive choice.
“She was firm in her beliefs and never afraid to express herself,” said Wisconsin State Senator Fred Risser, who also called her one of the leading activists of her time.
The words “In God We Trust” are not only unconstitutional, they aren’t even accurate.
There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.
In 1983 Anne Gaylor received the Zero Population Growth Recognition Award, in 1985 the Humanist Heroine Award from the American Humanist Association, in 1994 the Feminist of the Year award from the Wisconsin chapter of the NOW, and in 2007 the Tiller Award from NARAL Pro-Choice America.
She died at age 88 after complications from a fall. An outpouring of tributes in national media followed. Ms. Magazine editor Robin Morgan wrote: [Anne] “was one of the great ones in the women’s movement. Her integrity was always bracing, inspiring, magnificent. I will miss her on this planet.”
By her request, her body was cremated with no memorial service. Her final requests: “Please plant something flowering when weather permits,” and “Take care of each other.”