Talk:Center for Family and Human Rights

SPLC, United Nations, Yogyakarta Principles etc

It is inaccurate to say the efforts of the Human Rights Council to study violence against gays is "United Nations" effort. The United Nations is a large and complex organization and the only body that can claim to act for the United Nations is the General Assembly, perhaps the Secretary General but not always. The vote to initiate a study was an act of the Human Rights Council and not the United Nations in general. To say otherwise is to give greater weight to the vote than it properly deserves. Eggloff (talk) 15:08, 2 May 2014 (UTC) Eggloff

The Yogyakarta Principles are often confused with a document of the United Nations, which it was not. It is a statement initiated by non-governmental groups, though some UN staff were involved in their private capacity. Identifying it as such provides the reader with a greater understanding of the document and that the document has no weight beyond what an NGO document can provide. Eggloff (talk) 15:08, 2 May 2014 (UTC)Eggloff

For precision, it is more accurate to say that the C-FAM response was a statement issued on its website rather than a press release. I find no evidence that the statement was issued to the press. Moreover, it appears in the form of a statement, rather than a press release. Again, accuracy and precision. Eggloff (talk) 15:08, 2 May 2014 (UTC) Eggloff

Radio show

If it is considered important what Ruse said on the radio, then what he said and his apology should probably be enough. To go into great detail about the following day and his comments about his critics seems gratuitous and unnecessary. Eggloff (talk) 15:09, 2 May 2014 (UTC) Eggloff

Strange coincidence

It is a strange co-incidence that the source for User:Wildtypemonkey's addition[1] from CFAM president Austen Ruse was released on March 11, 2014, the same day that User:Wildtypemonkey added it to this article.[2] User:Wildtypemonkey must be pretty closely involved with the organization in order to have obtained and processed the information so...instantaneously. It's almost as if the press released was created in order to serve as a source for the Wikipedia article. But I suppose that it's just a bizarre coincidence. — goethean 03:00, 12 March 2014 (UTC)

Ongoing controversy

Think it's best to have this in a separate section. Best to segment the non-POV material upfront, let editors work out the details of the controversy. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Defensor1956 (talk • contribs) 19:12, 12 March 2014 (UTC)

I've undone this and some of your additions. Be conscious of the facts that we are not a newspaper, that we write with due weight, and that we only use the best sources on articles about living people. --John (talk) 20:36, 12 March 2014 (UTC)

Many wiki articles feature a "Controversies" section. Given this recent controversy, should the SPLC/C-FAM squabble be distinct from the rest of the article?Defensor1956 (talk) 21:18, 12 March 2014 (UTC)

See WP:CSECTION when considering a separate section and its heading in this area. Bahooka (talk) 22:02, 12 March 2014 (UTC)

Understood. Thanks for the link. I think current version works best. SPLC gives its opinion. C-FAM rejects the opinion. Both sides. If I had to weigh the claims based on cited sources, SPLC doesn't provide any verifiable information that C-FAM endorses the Uganda law or the criminalization of homosexuality. If sources verify, then those claims ought to re-entered into this article.Defensor1956 (talk) 14:55, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

CFAM response to hate group listing

I have no idea what Ruse is hoping to gain by denying that he called the UN report a "dishonest" ploy to legitimize homosexuality. The thing about proudly publishing your views on the Internet is that anyone can see them...

This issue is not about the murder of homosexuals. It is about a dishonest campaign to force governments to accept homosexual marriage, homosexual adoption, and homosexual propaganda being taught to your children. - [3]

Maybe we could say that he denied the charges, but I don't see why we would need to say more than that when the charges are verifiably true. (I haven't yet verified the Scott Lively one, but the cited source also doesn't deny it, contrary to what users wrote.) –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 15:18, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

"Homosexuality" is a loaded term prone to wide interpretation. Best to cite Ruse directly or summarize his objection as opposition to "homosexual marriage, homosexual adoption, and homosexual propaganda being taught to your children." These are three public policy initiatives that Ruse appears to object to.Defensor1956 (talk) 15:24, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

I'm not sure we need to give that nitpicking more than the single sentence of denial it already has. –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 16:33, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

It's not nitpicking at all. Beliefs and understandings vary between political and religious groups regarding the distinction between homosexuality as attraction and homosexuality as conduct. Certain groups will condemn one but not the other. Someone can condemn "homosexual marriage, homosexual adoption, and homosexual propaganda being taught to your children" without necessarily condemning persons with homosexual attractions. For example, many Christians don't condemn homosexual inclination while supporting the policy initiatives Ruse supports. It's possible Ruse actually condemns people for their homosexual attractions, but this would need to be cited.Defensor1956 (talk) 17:29, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

This may be interesting to you as someone personally affiliated with Austin Ruse, but in the real world, no one would say that it was an "absolute falsehood" or a "baseless assertion" to say C-FAM thinks preventing homophobic violence normalizes homosexuality instead of C-FAM thinks preventing homophobic violence normalizes same-sex marriage and adoption. I'm sorry, there are limits to SPS and posting up verifiably false claims is beyond those limits. –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 03:01, 14 March 2014 (UTC)

Blockquote seems WP:UNDUE

A large blockquote seems WP:UNDUE in an article of this size. I recommend cutting it down in size or putting the quote in the reference. I thought discussing it here first would be prudent considering the back-and-forth occurring in this article. Bahooka (talk) 16:12, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

The quoted material should be paraphrased. — goethean 16:29, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

I'm fine with a paraphrase; the reason I restored the blockquote is that paraphrasing that as "LGBT rights opposition" misrepresents SPLC's presumed reasons for identifying the group as a hate group. As I pointed out, many groups are anti-gay but don't get labeled hate groups; it's the ones that support violence, spread lies etc. that get the label. –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 16:34, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

I'm fine with a paraphrase too. Inserted blockquote from C-FAM's response to SPLC report to fix WP:ATTRIBUTEPOV and WP:BALANCE. Again, no problem paraphrasing.Defensor1956 (talk) 17:10, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

Yeah, that's the statement that was released on Tuesday, right? — goethean 17:12, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

Yup. I was made aware of it yesterday. Believe it or not, but many people follow Austin Ruse on Crisis and Breitbart.com. Sorry for being current?Defensor1956 (talk) 17:21, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

Sure. Was Tuesday's press released distributed on Crisis or Breitbart? — goethean 17:28, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

Neither. It was on the C-FAM website, which is frequently accessed by readers of Austin Ruse. Occasionally, Ruse's readers will email each other articles from Crisis, Breitbart, or C-FAM. The Internet is pretty cool.Defensor1956 (talk) 17:34, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

Can you understand that people might think it odd that a press release which is merely a few hours old would be used as a source on Wikipedia by someone who claims to be completely independent of the organization? — goethean 17:37, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

Certainly I could understand that. Which is why I'm happy to clarify. I just didn't see any reason to wait once I knew about it. Next time I get word of a press release from an organization I follow, I'll be sure to wait several weeks, lest confusion reign again...Unless following an organization = formal affiliation. In that case, I'm affiliated with Planned Parenthood, the Washington Post, and ESPN. -Defensor1956 (talk) 18:17, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

There's no need to wait. However, you still haven't clarified how you came across the press release immediately upon its publication. — goethean 18:39, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

Is getting a Tuesday press release on a Wednesday really "immediate"? C-FAM, like the Washington Post, has web subscribers for its publications. Is getting emailed a press release really that strange?Defensor1956 (talk) 19:51, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

It was added on Tuesday. — goethean 20:32, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

check the history. That wasn't me. I only learned of this on Wednesday.Defensor1956 (talk) 21:27, 13 March 2014 (UTC)

SPLC Allegation of C-FAM Support for Scott Lively

There is no evidence that C-FAM or C-FAM staff have ever worked with Scott Lively let alone "lauded" him. The inclusion seems to be an attempt to smear the group by association. Lively is accused of supporting the killing of gays, C-FAM "lauds" him --- though the lauding is not specific (did they laud his beard? his manner of eating? his political views?)--- and therefore C-FAM supports the killing gays, something also not supported by the evidence. Unless there is a specific instance of lauding and this lauding has a direct implication to the work of C-FAM, then this gratuitous remarks should be questioned. Eggloff (talk) 15:11, 2 May 2014 (UTC) Eggloff — Preceding unsigned comment added by Eggloff (talk • contribs) 12:08, 2 May 2014 (UTC)

The SPLC report cited in this article does state that C-FAM "lauded" Scott Lively. However, the report provides no citation. Can this be verified through another source? Otherwise, there's a WP:SELFSOURCE and WP:POV issue.Defensor1956 (talk) 13:58, 14 March 2014 (UTC)

I've been working on it, but it's a lot of Google hits to sort through because they've worked on tons of anti-gay campaigns together. –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 19:52, 14 March 2014 (UTC)

Still waiting. It's odd that SPLC is making you find evidence for their claim. A simple citation would've sufficed. And it's a crucial claim. Many groups oppose the creation of homosexuals as a "suspect class" for the purposes of international and human rights law. Advocating the death penalty for homosexual conduct is another matter. Currently, no verifiable evidence, apart from SPLC's un-sourced research, has been presented indicating C-FAM endorses any draft of the Ugandan Law or praised individuals on account of their support for an earlier draft of said law. Seems like much rests on linking C-FAM to the death penalty for homosexuals, so let's see some evidence.Defensor1956 (talk) 15:01, 15 March 2014 (UTC)

The SPLC report is a reliable source. No further citation is needed. — goethean 18:08, 15 March 2014 (UTC)

What "reliable source" claims an organization advocates the death penalty for homosexuals without any evidence? Defensor1956 (talk) 20:03, 15 March 2014 (UTC)

Mark Krikorian

Why is his opinion notable and encyclopedic? If it was published in the print version of NR, then we'd have something worth including, but the online version of NR is basically an aggregation of blogs. Gamaliel (talk) 22:52, 14 March 2014 (UTC)

His article notes that he also writes for the print version and appears to be notable enough by publishing in other publications. I believe having a third-party reference is helpful in this article beyond just C-FAM and SPLC. Bahooka (talk) 22:58, 14 March 2014 (UTC)

I agree that third-party sources would be helpful, but they should be things such as newspaper reports or scholarly articles, not partisan blogs. Gamaliel (talk) 23:01, 14 March 2014 (UTC)

The writer is a professional, so I believe this meets the requirement of WP:NEWSBLOG and therefore is a reliable source. Bahooka (talk) 23:05, 14 March 2014 (UTC)

Krikorian is a professional and meets WP:NEWSBLOG criteria as a reliable source. No undue weight is given, editors welcome to add third - parties which corroborate one of the two competing claims here: a) C-FAM supports violate against homosexuals and b) C-FAM doesn't support violence against homosexuals.Defensor1956 (talk) 06:57, 16 March 2014 (UTC)

It's a reliable source written a professional, per WP:NEWSBLOG. National Review and National Review Online are not extremist fringe publications. Many are not happy with SPLC researching because SPLC makes false claims, and doesn't provide citations for key judgments (see Scott Lively conversation above).

Believing homosexual acts to be immoral is not hate. Opposing the normalization of homosexual acts is not hate.Would add that, while SPLC wishes it were otherwise, it is not settled science, settled philosophy, or settled law that homosexual behavior is the new black. Certainly many think so. But the fact remains that sexual behavior, unlike race, is not immutable. Sexual behaviors, unlike race, are valid moral criteria for making a moral judgment about actions. Even if same-sex attraction is genetic, does that imply, much less require, that homosexual acts are moral? We can be inclined to do lots of acts, mere desire doesn't make the act moral. What most traditional religions condemn is homosexual behavior, frequently described as "hating the sin, loving the sinner." There are two types of people who ignore this distinction, those who don't know better, and those who do. Defensor1956 (talk) 17:48, 16 March 2014 (UTC)

Whether you agree with the SPLC's categorisation of C-FAM as a hate group, or whether it is reasonable or not, is irrelevant to the Wikipedia article. Wikipedia is not a forum for that discussion. —Tom Morris (talk) 17:52, 16 March 2014 (UTC)

So there is no way to indicate reliable sources issuing criticisms of SPLC's designation? This seems to bias the article toward SPLC's claim, making it unbalanced.Defensor1956 (talk) 19:25, 16 March 2014 (UTC)

Notability

Is this group actually notable? SPLC has talked about their anti-gay activism, but SPLC alone can't support an article, and other than that really all we have is a news cycle piece about Ruse making dumb remarks. (The Mother Jones coverage of Ruse as part of Groundswell is literally just his photo and the name of C-FAM.) –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 03:43, 1 May 2014 (UTC)

The leader has been quoted fairly extensively in such publications as the New York Times, Washington Post, and Buzzfeed. He and his team have written columns for such notable publications as National Review, Weekly Standard, Washington Times and many others. I am not sure how you have come to the conclusion that the group is not notable enough. Eggloff (talk) 21:45, 7 May 2014 (UTC)Eggloff

May 2014 edits

I've walked back some of the recent bad edits, seeing as it looks like we're stuck with the article. I'm not sure when the reference to the Yogyakarta Principles specifically came in to the article, but as C-FAM obviously opposes all efforts to protect LGBT rights, I think we had better leave it at what SPLC said - the general statement about CFAM's opposition to UN work for gay rights - rather than trying to figure out what they meant. I Googled the hate crimes quote to see if it was from something that would help us pin it down, but it seems to be a paraphrase, so I couldn't tell. I've also added a caveat to the mention of Lively, since it is a documented reason for SPLC's labeling them a hate group but we can't independently confirm it. Have I already suggested contacting SPLC to find out when they're referencing? SPLC has access to member mailings and such that aren't always released to the general public. I also removed a self-sourced and non-neutral paragraph on a conference C-FAM held. If the conference is significant, reliable secondary sources will cover it, and we might write about it using neutral and appropriate language. –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 22:26, 12 May 2014 (UTC)

You say "C-FAM obviously opposes all efforts to protect LGBT rights..." Can you provide some kind of citation to back that up? It is my understanding that C-FAM is on record asserting the gays and lesbians are covered by all existing human rights treaties, this would include treaties protecting the rights of gays to vote, worship, associate, not to be tortured so on and on and on. I would say quite the contrary that it is obvious that C-FAM fully supports LGBT rights but that they oppose gay marriage, gay adoption, and the insertion of LGBT rights as a specific aspect of international law, particularly since, as C-FAM holds, LGBTs are fully covered by existing international human rights. C-FAM, I thnk but am not sure, is also critical of the harsh laws happening now in Africa. Eggloff (talk) 21:26, 16 May 2014 (UTC) Eggloff

@ Roscelese You're on a crusade. You tried to get the page deleted and every vote was a "keep". You've clearly got some personal opinions on the subject and that can be rough and I'm sorry if someone rubbed you the wrong way at some point but there is no reason to removed information about organizations that you don't like from public circulation — Preceding unsigned comment added by Kfritz92 (talk • contribs) 18:15, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

Please explain why you've restored the inappropriate edits. –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 18:27, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

Why do you feel that they're inappropriate? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Kfritz92 (talk • contribs) 22:17, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

Look at my first comment. Please stop stalling; if you can't even attempt to justify the recent bad edits, they will be reverted again. –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 22:40, 14 May 2014 (UTC)

"It looks like we're stuck with the article" "I think we had better" "I googled...but it seems to be a paraphrase so I couldn't tell" These are not compelling reasons to insert your personal opinions into the article. Kfritz92 (talk) 15:46, 16 May 2014 (UTC)

Luckily, that's not what I'm doing! In fact, the version I've restored reflects the source, without reading anything into it based on my own original research or opinions. Glad we could clear that up. Now, would you please try to justify the changes you've made? –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 15:48, 16 May 2014 (UTC)

I'm ok with her changes. Just indicate what SPLC deems is true. And what C-FAM deems is true. Defensor1956 (talk) 10:45, 19 May 2014 (UTC)

Further on SPLC Charges

It is not accurate to say the initiative opposed by C-FAM was one of the United Nations. It was by a very small body of an immense organization. Even the hyper-link within the proposed para shows what the UN is. It is simply inaccurate to say this was an initiative of the United Nations.

It is also not substantiated that C-FAM lauded Scot Lively in any way for anything ever. I have looked for this. I have asked SPLC for substantiation. Others have looked for this. The fact that SPLC has made this charge but refuses to cite actually casts a doubt on them as a reliable source. As I suggested before, does this mean they lauded his beard, his wardrobe, or his work in Africa on LGBT issues? The charge is very strong because the inference is that C-FAM supports the death of homosexuals. Such a drastic charge needs to be substantiated and in this case it simply is not.

Also, the charge that SPLC exaggerates its figures is made by a very notable journal, Foreign Policy. It is not no one making the charge against SPLC. The specific charge repeated by C-FAM in their own defense fits in here.

There is also no evidence that C-FAM opposes LGBT rights. They opposed an NGO document called the Yogyakarta Principles, a document no part of the UN has ever endorsed.

Eggloff (talk) 01:47, 17 May 2014 (UTC) Eggloff

This article is completely missing the majority of what the group actually does.

LGBT being the least remarkable part of it.

The group is dedicated to a Catholic idea that life should proceed from natural conception to natural death.

The majority of its work is directed at restricting or reversing abortion laws. As per its mission statement it also opposes Euthanasia, artificial birth control, and the death penalty.

It also partners with Best Buddies, a group providing mentoring and care for those with Down Syndrome. This is related to the fact that 90% of Down Syndrome fetuses are aborted.

There are also some notable run-ins with the UN over the subject of Population Control. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.108.10.189 (talk) 13:20, 4 May 2015 (UTC)

Hate group listing

@Joppa Chong: I'm mystified by your insistence on removing this citation. It is literally their hate group listing. They monitor and list hate groups, the Intelligence Files and Hate Map are where those groups are listed. Is it your contention that the SPLC does not in fact monitor and list hate groups, or that the list is actually a secret?

If you don't like the citation, I suggest that you demonstrate good faith by restoring the information and replacing the ref with this one (SPLC's site, linking to this page: "784 known hate groups") or this one ("the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-FAM), an anti-LGBT hate group"). –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 01:51, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

The word hate is mentioned on the map, not in the list. C-FAM is on the list but not marked on the map. –Joppa Chong (talk) 02:21, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

It is on the map! Do you need some kind of screenshot with CFAM circled? And if so, why, since you've admitted they're on the list? –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 02:31, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

It seems to me that C-FAM is just invisible on the map whereas the list only refers to anti-lgbt groups, too little for the expression in question. Also, it might be a an issue whether blog entries are a good reference. –Joppa Chong (talk) 03:46, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

The list is their list of hate groups, CFAM is literally visible and present on the map, and the blog is published by SPLC, not some random internet blogger. I am deeply confused by what you're trying to do here. –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 03:52, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

We need stable stuff, blog entries are likely to be set offline after some time. A hate map without C-FAM clearly and accessibly marked does not convince either. –Joppa Chong (talk) 04:16, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

So we've established that C-FAM is on their hate group list, on their hate map, and identified as a hate group elsewhere on their website. Please stop looking for weird reasons to remove this material and just stick with RS policy, please. –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 04:54, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

Who is "we"? –Joppa Chong (talk) 05:13, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

Again, will you demonstrate good faith by recognizing that three separate sources confirming CFAM's listing as a hate group have been provided, and restoring the content you removed for no policy-compliant reason? –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 13:50, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

I think the section as it is contains all "important" information on the controversy. Furthermore, I don't know if my edits have been read carefully. –Joppa Chong (talk) 17:29, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

I'm restoring the sourced content. "I refuse to accept the validity of SPLC's own website as a source on SPLC's hate group listings" is simply not a valid complaint. If the issue had been that the Intelligence Files page contains the phrase "hate group" only in the URL, then the Hate Map, which the SPLC describes as mapping 784 hate groups and which includes C-FAM, and/or SPLC's piece on C-FAM specifically, which describes it as a hate group, should have been sufficient. Your arguments are weak and unsupported by policy. –Roscelese (talk ⋅ contribs) 22:16, 12 May 2015 (UTC)

Unsupported by which policy, an LGBT agenda? –Joppa Chong (talk) 03:07, 13 May 2015 (UTC)