I suspect far outnumbering the closeted-in-fear atheists are those like me, the "i dont care" atheists. I've never believed in god and wasnt raised to believe in god. I don’t have any strong feelings on the subject. I find the whole issue akin to whether or not Santa Claus exists. Yes, people who believe in god seem silly to me, but so do people who get into drawn out argument on the Internet about his lack of existence. I don`t really care to be associated with being an atheist given that.
I would think that with all the evil the happens in the name of religion, that meme is far more important than the one around Santa.
I know you* do, but it isn`t any more important to me. That’s why I don’t like being associated with atheists even though I am absolutely one by definition.
*where you is devout atheists.
I’m an out atheist. I was never closeted, but then I wasn’t raised to believe in anything, so being a nonbeliever was never a big deal as far as I was concerned.
The thing that frustrates me is that we don’t have a symbol we can display on our bodies or in our homes to say “this is who I am.” Someone wears a cross necklace, you know about their faith. I’d like to be able to wear something that gives someone that little bit of insight into me, but it doesn’t exist. Maybe it’s a question mark…
Being an atheist is nothing to be ashamed of. We’re people who aren’t afraid to ask why, and aren’t afraid to say “I don’t know.” That’s a powerful thing.
Perhaps if you just went around pantless…
dang!
Here ya go, the image;
The big bang
And the Word;
αλήθεια = “Truth”, in Greek.
I just noticed the source of that image. 
How the hell did “pangs” turn into “pants”?
Do these Guilt Pants make my ass look fat?
Also, if he exists, and is omni-potent and all, then arguably he influenced your towards your non-belief, and it’s part of the ineffable plan. And that should count for something.
- Apollyon; agnostic empiricist… or ignostic… depending on which side of bed I get up on.
The “g” key and the “t” keys think it’s very funny to switch positions while you’re not looking.
That much I know. I haven’t had the pleasure of sizing up your ass. 
Peace,
mangeorge