Emperor Has No Clothes Award

An award celebrating “plain speaking” on the shortcomings of religion by public figures was inaugurated by the Freedom From Religion Foundation in 1999.

Steve Benson - 2002

Pulitzer Prize-winning daily editorial cartoonist Steve Benson received the Foundation's "Emperor Has No Clothes" award at the 25th annual FFRF convention in San Diego on Nov. 23, 2002.

Steve and his wife Mary Ann Benson, in a highly publicized action, left the Mormon Church in 1994, when his grandfather, Ezra Taft Benson, was still the Mormon president. Since then, Steve has become an outspoken freethinker. He has teamed up with Foundation musician Dan Barker to present a freethought look at religion in the news in their unique music and cartoon comedy revue, "Tunes 'n 'Toons."

For full speech click here

photo by Brent Nicastro

Recipients of the Emperor Has No Clothes Award: