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American Family Association

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American Family Association
Founded1977 by Rev. Donald Wildmon
TypeChristian right organization
Location
Key people
Tim Wildmon, President
Websitewww.AFA.net

The American Family Association (AFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes conservative Christian values. It was founded in 1977 by Rev. Donald Wildmon as the National Federation for Decency and is headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi. Wildmon serves as AFA chairman; his son, Tim Wildmon, is AFA president.[1] The organization defines itself as "a Christian organization promoting the biblical ethic of decency in American society with primary emphasis on TV and other media."[2][3]

Beliefs and goals

The AFA's mission statement is, "The American Family Association exists to motivate and equip citizens to change the culture to reflect Biblical truth."

On the organization's website, the AFA states its belief that the Bible contains the absolute truth of God and is the authority to which all men are divinely judged. "[A] culture based on Biblical truth best serves the well-being of our country, in accordance with the vision of our founding fathers."[4]

The AFA advocates what it considers to be conservative family values and focuses on addressing the influence of media. The AFA is actively involved in multiple issues, including:

The Church in America: AFA emphasizes the benefits of attendance at church to encourage community, and discourages televised religion.
Culture and society: AFA encourages the consideration of mentorship and morality in culture.
Education: The AFA is concerned about maintaining and enhancing Christian values in education.
Entertainment industry: The AFA sees the entertainment industry as playing, "a major role in the decline of those values on which our country was founded and which keep a society and its families strong and healthy."[1]
Marriage and family: AFA emphasizes the need for what it considers strong family values, and responsible parenting skills.
Gambling: AFA views gambling as an "indecent” influence in American culture.
Homosexual agenda: AFA are concerned the homosexual agenda will lead to excessive social and economic costs, and discrimination against people of any religion that does not agree with equal rights for homosexuals.
Money and finance
Pornography: AFA are concerned about obscenity issues, the rise of online pornography and the possible consequences to crime, marriage, and the family.
Pro-life issues: AFA believes legal abortion is an "indecent” influence in American culture.

The AFA pursues these issues through a number of activism efforts, including publications on the organization’s various web sites or in the AFA Journal; broadcasts on American Family Radio, a national network of radio stations; lobbying[5]and legal efforts by the AFA Center for Law and Policy, and boycotts.[6][7]

Activism

The AFA has a long history of activism by organizing its members in boycotts and letter-writing campaigns aimed at promoting socially conservative values in the United States. The AFA has promoted boycotts of a large number of television shows, movies, and businesses that have promoted what the group considers indecency or homosexuality. In addition to promoting activism via mail to AFA members, 3.4 million subscribers receive AFA "Action Alerts" via e-mail regarding AFA sponsored activism.[8]

Boycotts

As of July 2007, the AFA is promoting a boycott of Movie Gallery for distributing pornographic videos[9] and is promoting a boycott of Ford Motor Company for, according to Donald Wildmon, "redefining family to include homosexual marriage; to giving hundreds of thousands of dollars to support homosexual groups and their agenda; to forcing managers to attend diversity training on how to promote the acceptance of homosexuality; to sponsoring a commitment ceremony -- that is, 'marriage'; to sponsoring 'gay pride' parades."[10]

The AFA has promoted boycotts of Kmart for the "sale of adult-rated music CDs", and Nike for supporting Domestic partnerships in Oregon by endorsing the Oregon Family Fairness Act.[11]

In 2005, AFA boycotted the company American Girl, seller of dolls and accessories, because the computer supported the chairty Girls, Inc.,[12] and Target for its lack of the word "Christmas" in its advertising.[13]

The AFA has also launched specific boycotts against Procter & Gamble, Crest, Volkswagen, Wal-Mart, Tide, Clorox, Pampers, Microsoft, Burger King, Carl's Jr., Kraft Foods, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Old Navy, NutriSystem, MTV, IKEA,[14] Sears,[15] S. C. Johnson & Son, and American Airlines.[16][17]

Successful boycotts

In 1986, 7-Eleven stopped selling Playboy and Penthouse magazines after a two year boycott by the AFA[18]

In 1990, Blockbuster Video decided not to stock films that carried the recently introduced NC-17 rating after a boycott from the AFA.

In 2003, the AFA with American Decency Association, Focus on the Family, and Citizens for Community Values lobbied and boycotted Abercrombie & Fitch to stop using pornography in its quarterly catalog. In December 2003, Abercrombie & Fitch announced it would not produce any pornographic images or sexually-themed articles after the release of their 2003 Christmas catalog.[19]

Un-successful boycotts

In 1996, AFA launched a boycott against Walt Disney Company when the company began giving benefits to same-sex employees in domestic partnerships. AFA has claimed Michael Eisner, the CEO of The Disney Company, "was involved in a media group that actively promoted the homosexual agenda" and was pushing the "gay agenda." The AFA ended the unsuccessful nine-year boycott in spring 2005 after Michael Eisner, the former CEO of Disney, departed from the company.[16][20][21]

"Merry Christmas" boycotts

Main article: Christmas controversy

The AFA was one of several conservative organizations which objected to the use of phrases such as "Happy Holidays" and "Seasons Greetings", among others, instead of "Merry Christmas" in catalogs and advertisements. Boycott efforts met with significant success.

Legal activism

In March 2004, the AFA filed suit in an attempt to prevent the city of Seattle, Washington from recognizing same-sex marriages

Political activism

In 2000, the AFA failed to persuade Congress to eradicate the National Endowment for the Arts for funding a controversial book One of the Guys, by Robert Clark Young.

On November 28 2006, following the election of Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress,[22] the AFA released an "Action Alert." The Action Alert, entitled "A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in oath: What book will America base it's values on, the Bible or the Koran?", requested subscribers write their Congressional representatives and urge them to create a "law making the Bible the book used in the swearing-in ceremony of representatives and senators."[23][24]

On July 13 2007, the first Hindu prayers were conducted in the U.S. Senate. Rajan Zed, director of interfaith relations at a Hindu temple, read the prayer at the invitation of Senate majority leader Harry Reid, who defended his invitation based on the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi. AFA sent out an "Action Alert" to its members to e-mail, write letters, or call their Senators to oppose the Hindu prayer, stating it is "seeking the invocation of a non-monotheistic god."[25][26]

"The homosexual agenda"

The AFA claims the bible identifies homosexuality as unnatural and sinful, which guides the AFA's opposition to what they refer to as the "homosexual agenda."[27] The AFA often focuses on homosexual issues and publicizes statements abouts ex-gays, who claim homosexuality is a choice and that it can be changed.[28]

In 2000, Vice president Tim Wildmon spoke out against gay-straight alliance clubs in schools, stating, "We view these kinds of clubs as an advancement of the homosexual cause."[29] In 2004, the AFA raised concerns about the movie Shark Tale because the group believed the movie was designed to promote the acceptance of gay rights by children.[30]

On the October 11, 2005, AFA broadcast, Tim Wildmon agreed with a caller that cable networks like Animal Planet and HGTV featured "evidence of homosexuality and lesbian people" and added that "you have to watch out for children's programs today as well because they'll slip it in there as well."[31]

Published media

The AFA has distributed 400,000 copies of the "Fight Back Book", a guide to television advertisers, products, and advertisements.[1]

In 1994, the AFA launched a "war on divorce" by developing and distributing the "Marriage Savers" video series.[1]

On April 16 2007, following the Virginia Tech Massacre, the AFA released a video in which "God" tells a student that students were killed in schools because God isn't allowed in schools anymore. The video claims that the shootings at Virginia Tech, Columbine, and many other locations, are the result of, among other things, decreased discipline in schools; no prayer in schools; sex out of wedlock; rampant violence in TV, movies, and music, and abortions.[32]

Criticism and controversy

Southern Poverty Law Center has stated one of AFA's goals is to "help drive the religious right's anti-gay crusade."[33] Organizations, such as Human Rights Campaign,[34] GLAAD,[18] Southern Voice,[35] People for the American Way,[36] The Advocate,[37][38] CNET,[39] and 365 gay[15] have labeled the AFA as an "anti-gay" group.

In 1989, AFA boycotted WaldenBooks to persuade Walden Books from selling Playboy and Penthouse magazines and as a result, WaldenBooks launched an advertisement campaign against censorship, asserting First Amendment rights. WaldenBooks, American Booksellers Association, Council for Periodical Distributors Association, International Periodical Distributors Association, and Duvall Bibb Services launched a lawsuit against the AFA in October 1989, under the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and the Florida State RICO Acts, which protect an organization’s right to conduct business without harassment or threats.[40]

In 1998, the popular Internet filtering software CyberPatrol blocked the AFA's web site, classifying it under the category "intolerance", defined as "pictures or text advocating prejudice or discrimination against any race, color, national origin, religion, disability or handicap, gender or sexual orientation..." AFA spokesman Steve Ensley told reporters, "Basically we're being blocked for free speech." CyberPatrol cited quotes from the AFA for meeting its intolerance criteria, with included: "Indifference or neutrality toward the homosexual rights movement will result in society's destruction by allowing civil order to be redefined and by plummeting ourselves, our children, and grandchildren into an age of godlessness"; "A national 'Coming Out of Homosexuality' provides us a means whereby to dispel the lies of the homosexual rights crowd who say they are born that way and cannot change"; and "We want to outlaw public homosexuality...We believe homosexuality is immoral and leads ultimately to personal and social decay."[39][41]

On October 19 1998, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, led by Leslie Katz, wrote a letter to the AFA in response to an advertisement placed in the San Francisco Chronicle by the AFA regarding homosexuality and Christianity. The letter stated:[42]

Supervisor Leslie Katz denounces your rhetoric against gays, lesbians and transgendered people. What happened to Matthew Shepard is in part due to the message being espoused by your groups that gays and lesbians are not worthy of the most basic equal rights and treatment. It is not an exaggeration to say that there is a direct correlation between these acts of discrimination, such as when gays and lesbians are called sinful and when major religious organizations say they can change if they tried, and the horrible crimes committed against gays and lesbians.

During the same time, the City and County of San Francisco passed two resolutions. Resolution No. 234-99 “calls for the Religious Right to take accountability for the impact of their long-standing rhetoric denouncing gays and lesbians, which leads to a climate of mistrust and discrimination that can open the door to horrible crimes such as those committed against Mr. Gaither.[43]” and Resolution No. 873-98 was specifically directed at "anti-gay" television advertisements. AFA unsuccessfully challenged these actions as violating the First Amendment to the United States Constitution in American Family Association v. City and County of San Francisco[42] AFA's concern was that the City and County of San Francisco violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause by expressing hostility towards a religion and violated to First Amendment's Free Speech and Free Exercise clauses by the City’s attempt to prevent Truth in Love advertisements.

AFA Personnel

Individuals in the media industry have criticized Donald Wildmon, the founder of AFA. Gene Mater, Senior Vice President of CBS Television, has stated, "We look upon Wildmon's efforts as the greatest frontal assault on intellectual freedom this country has ever faced" and Brandon Tartikoff, former NBC Entertainment President stated that Wildmon's boycott campaign was "the first step toward a police state."[44]

Operations

Divisions

AFA Foundation, a foundation providing “charitable giving and estate design tools” oriented towards Christian charities.

AFA Journal, a monthly publication with a circulation of 180,000[45] containing news, features, columns, and interviews. In addition to the publication, AFA Journal articles are made available online.

American Family Radio (AFR), a network of approximately 200 AFA-owned radio stations broadcasting Christian-oriented programming. AFR has stated "AFR has built more stations in a shorter time than any other broadcaster in the history of broadcasting."[8]

Center for Law and Policy, the legal and political division of AFA. The Center for Law and Policy lobbies legislative bodies, drafts legislation, and files religious-discrimination lawsuits on behalf of individuals.

Internet operations

OneMillionDads.com, a web site regarding activism for fathers.

OneMillionMoms.com, a web site regarding activism for mothers.

OneNewsNow.com, the AFA news division web site, which provides news articles, AP stories, and opinion columns. Formerly AgapePress and the news division of American Family Radio.[46]

ValuesVoters.com, a voter registration and information web site.

NoGayMarriage.com, a web site promoting the Marriage Protection Act.

BoycottFord.com, a web site promoting a boycott of Ford Motors.

References

  1. ^ a b c d About us: General Information. American Family Association. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.
  2. ^ "The Religious Right in Washington". ACLU. 1995-06-01. Retrieved 2007-06-24. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ "afaMEDIA, About AFA". American Family Association. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  4. ^ General Information. American Family Association. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.
  5. ^ "'American Family Association' Attacks Ford's Family-Friendly Policies After Failed Disney Boycott". GLADD. 2005-06-01. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.
  6. ^ http://www.afa.net/issues/ AFA Issues
  7. ^ http://www3.capwiz.com/afanet/home/ AFA Activism
  8. ^ a b "Still Cranky After All These Years". Media Transparency. 2007-04-19. Retrieved 2007-06-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ Movie Gallery. American Family Association. Retrieved on 2007-06-16. (archived link)
  10. ^ Boycott continues to drive Ford sales down. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
  11. ^ Thomas, Ed (2005-06-19). "Family Advocate Condemns Nike's Support for Oregon Civil Unions". Agape Press (American Family Assoication. Retrieved 2007-06-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "American Girl teams with pro-abortion, pro-lesbian group". American Family Association (via Internet Archive).
  13. ^ "Ford, where backing down to nutcases is Job One". The Carpetbagger Report. 2005-12-06. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  14. ^ "IKEA - Commerical Tries to Rewrite American Values". OneMillionDads.com (American Family Association). {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ a b "Anti-Gay AFA Now Targets Sears". 365gay. 2006-12-08. Retrieved 2007-06-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ a b Johnson, Alex (2005-06-06). "Christian group suspends Ford boycott". MSNBC. Retrieved 2007-06-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ Elliott, Stuart (1994-05-29). "Ikea Ads Feature Gay Customers". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-06-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  18. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference glad1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ Pugh, Rusty and Parker, Jenni. Decency Advocates Claim Victory as A&F Pulls Explicit Catalog, Ceases Publication. AFA Journal. 2003-12-10. Retrieved on 2007-06-16. (archived link)
  20. ^ Brandt, Doreen. Anti-Gay Group Ends Disney Boycott. 365gay. 2005-05-24. Retrieved on 2007-06-16. (archieve link)
  21. ^ AFA ends Disney boycott. American Family Assocciation. Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
  22. ^ Argetsinger, Amy and Roberts, Roxanne. But It's Thomas Jefferson's Koran!. Washington Post. 2007-01-03 Retrieved on 2007-01-04
  23. ^ A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in oath. American Family Association. Retrieved on 2007-06-17. (archived link)
  24. ^ Sacirbey, Omar. "Ellison not first to forgo Bible for oath". Christian Century (published on LookSmart FindArticles). 2006-12-26. Retrieved on 2007-06-17.
  25. ^ Babington, Charles (2007-06-12). "Hindu Prayer in Senate Disrupted". Retrieved 2007-06-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |pubulisher= ignored (help)
  26. ^ "ActionAlert: Hindu to open Senate with prayer". American Family Association.
  27. ^ "Homosexual Agenda, Principles Which Guide AFA's Opposition to the Homosexual Agenda". American Family Association. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  28. ^ Home, Richard G. (1994). "Homosexuality in America, Exposing the Myths" (PDF). American Family Association. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  29. ^ "Gay-Straight Alliances: Ground Zero for School Tolerance". www.educationworld.com. 2000-12-19. Retrieved 2007-04-30. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ Vitagliano, Ed (2004-11-17). "Something's Swishy About Shark Tale". Agape Press (American Family Association). Retrieved 2007-06-24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ Today's Issues, Media Matters for America website
  32. ^ "The Day They Kicked God out of the Schools". American Family Radio (American Family Association). Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  33. ^ Hall, Randy (2005-06-30). "Christian 'Hate Groups' Accused of 'Anti-Gay Crusade'". Cybercast News Service. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ "American Family Association' Attacks Ford's Family-Friendly Policies After Failed Disney Boycott". Human Rights Campaign. 2005-06-01. Retrieved 2007-06-26. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  35. ^ Bagby, Dyana (2005-06-03). "Efforts of 'anti-gay industry' chronicled in new report". Southern Voice. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  36. ^ "Anti-Gay Group Attacks Commemoration of End of Bans on Interracial Marriage". People for the American Way. 2007-06-01. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  37. ^ Han, Angie (2005-08-16). "Procter won't gamble on gays?". The Advocate (published on LookSmart Find Articles). Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  38. ^ Henneman, Todd (2006-01-31). "The Right tries to steer Ford: the antigay American Family Association nearly changed the course of Ford Motor Co.'s commitment to equality. The feud with the country's number 2 automaker is not finished". The Advocate (published on LookSmart Find Articles). Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  39. ^ a b Festa, Paul (1998-06-03). "Antigay group blocked by filter". CNET. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ Liebeck, Laura (1990-05-07). "K mart, Waldenbooks to face AFA pickets - American Family Association". Discount Store News. Retrieved 2007-07-15. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ "Censorship in a Box, Why Blocking Software is Wrong for Public Libraries". American Civil Liberties Union. 2002-09-16. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ a b "AMERICAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION, INC.; DONALD WILDMON; KERUSSO MINISTRIES; FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL V. CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO; LESLIE KATZ, in her capacity as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors" (PDF). United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  43. ^ On February 19 1999, in Coosa County, Alabama, Billy Jack Gaither was beaten to death with an axe handle and his body was burned because he was homosexual.
  44. ^ About Don Wildmon. American Family Association. Retrieved on 2007-06-16. (archived link)
  45. ^ "Right Wing Organization: American Family Association". People for the American Way. Retrieved 2007-06-25.
  46. ^ "News Operations Merge to Create OneNewsNow.com". American Family Assoication. 2007-02-23. Retrieved 2007-06-25. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

See also

External links

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