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	The American Family Association's many publications and statements claim that ] is a choice and that it can be changed.<ref name="Homosexuality in America">, AFA website</ref> In 2000, Vice president Tim Wildmon spoke out against ] clubs in schools, stating "We view these kinds of clubs as an advancement of the homosexual cause."<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues/issues149.shtml\|title=Gay-Straight Alliances: Ground Zero for School Tolerance\|publisher=\|date=]\|accessdate=2007-04-30}}</ref>		The American Family Association's many publications and statements claim that ] is a choice and that it can be changed.<ref name="Homosexuality in America">, AFA website</ref> In 2000, Vice president Tim Wildmon spoke out against ] clubs in schools, stating "We view these kinds of clubs as an advancement of the homosexual cause."<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues/issues149.shtml\|title=Gay-Straight Alliances: Ground Zero for School Tolerance\|publisher=\|date=]\|accessdate=2007-04-30}}</ref>

	On ], ], following the election of ], the first ] elected to the ], the AFA released an article entitled "A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in oath". In this article, the AFA, backed by conservative radio hosts such as ] and ], made the claim that it is un-American to swear an oath on any book other than the Bible, and that such an oath is not valid. This contradicted House procedure, where members of Congress simply stand at their seats, raise their right hand and recite "I do" in unison after the oath is read by the Speaker. The AFA urged members to contact Congressmen to pass a law stipulating that all oaths for federal office must invoke the Bible. ~~However, requiring holy books in swearing in ceremonies would violate Article VI of the ] regarding religious tests for office, according to legal experts like Eugene Volokh.<ref>, ]</ref>~~ Ellison took a ceremonial oath using ]'s personal copy of the Koran at a photo-op after the session.<ref>{{cite web\| last = Argetsinger\| first = Amy\| coauthors = Roxanne Roberts\| title = But It's Thomas Jefferson's Koran!\| work = Reliable Source\| publisher = Washington Post\| date = 2007-01-03\| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/03/AR2007010300075.html\| accessdate = 2007-01-04}}</ref>		On ], ], following the election of ], the first ] elected to the ], the AFA released an article entitled "A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in oath". In this article, the AFA, backed by conservative radio hosts such as ] and ], made the claim that it is un-American to swear an oath on any book other than the Bible, and that such an oath is not valid. This contradicted House procedure, where members of Congress simply stand at their seats, raise their right hand and recite "I do" in unison after the oath is read by the Speaker. The AFA urged members to contact Congressmen to pass a law stipulating that all oaths for federal office must invoke the Bible. Ellison took a ceremonial oath using ]'s personal copy of the Koran at a photo-op after the session.<ref>{{cite web\| last = Argetsinger\| first = Amy\| coauthors = Roxanne Roberts\| title = But It's Thomas Jefferson's Koran!\| work = Reliable Source\| publisher = Washington Post\| date = 2007-01-03\| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/03/AR2007010300075.html\| accessdate = 2007-01-04}}</ref>

	The AFA's activism has long been opposed by civil liberties organizations, especially the ] (ACLU), and ] ], both of whom charge that its policies directly violate the First Amendment. They also argue that many legal restrictions on individual liberty favored by the AFA require a loose interpretation of the Interstate ] of the ].{{Fact\|date=June 2007}}		The AFA's activism has long been opposed by civil liberties organizations, especially the ] (ACLU), and ] ], both of whom charge that its policies directly violate the First Amendment. They also argue that many legal restrictions on individual liberty favored by the AFA require a loose interpretation of the Interstate ] of the ].{{Fact\|date=June 2007}}

Revision as of 03:56, 19 June 2007

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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.

Goals

The AFA advocates conservative family values and focuses on addressing the influence of media, including pornography, on those values. These goals are pursued through articles published on the organization’s news website, OneNewsNow, and various activism efforts.

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. As of June 2006, it is promoting boycotts of Abercrombie & Fitch ("Use of softcore pornography in company catalogs"), Movie Gallery ("distributor of pornographic videos"), Kmart ("Sale of adult-rated music CDs") and Nike ("promoting a back door move to legalise homosexual marriage").

In the past, the AFA has promoted boycotts of all television shows, movies, and businesses that have promoted what the group considers indecency. The AFA has also launched specific boycotts against Procter & Gamble, Crest, Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen, Wal-Mart, Tide, Clorox, Pampers, Microsoft, Burger King, Carl's Jr., Kraft Foods, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Old Navy, NutriSystem, MTV, Abercrombie & Fitch, IKEA, S. C. Johnson & Son, and American Airlines.

In 2004, the AFA went after the movie Shark Tale, because the group believed the movie was designed to brainwash children into accepting gay rights. In 2005, it boycotted the company American Girl, seller of dolls and accessories, because of a charity that the company supported , and Target for its lack of the word "Christmas" in its advertising.

AFA's boycotts have had mixed success. In 1990, Blockbuster Video decided not to stock films that carried the recently introduced NC-17 rating after pressure from the AFA. But a nine-year boycott of Disney resulted in none of the group's demands being met while Disney enjoyed a surge in profits.

The AFA failed in 2000 to persuade Congress to eradicate the National Endowment for the Arts for funding a controversial book, One of the Guys, by Robert Clark Young. In March of 2004, the AFA filed suit in an attempt to prevent the city of Seattle, Washington from recognizing same-sex marriages. (see Same-sex marriage in the United States).

Following the Virginia Tech Massacre on April 16, 2007, 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.

The American Family Association's many publications and statements claim that homosexuality is a choice and that it can be changed. 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."

On November 28, 2006, following the election of Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the United States Congress, the AFA released an article entitled "A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in oath". In this article, the AFA, backed by conservative radio hosts such as Michael Savage and Dennis Prager, made the claim that it is un-American to swear an oath on any book other than the Bible, and that such an oath is not valid. This contradicted House procedure, where members of Congress simply stand at their seats, raise their right hand and recite "I do" in unison after the oath is read by the Speaker. The AFA urged members to contact Congressmen to pass a law stipulating that all oaths for federal office must invoke the Bible. Ellison took a ceremonial oath using Thomas Jefferson's personal copy of the Koran at a photo-op after the session.

The AFA's activism has long been opposed by civil liberties organizations, especially the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and conservative Constitutionalists, both of whom charge that its policies directly violate the First Amendment. They also argue that many legal restrictions on individual liberty favored by the AFA require a loose interpretation of the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution.

Criticism

In 1998, the popular Internet filtering software CyberPatrol began blocking the AFA's website, 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. Any picture or text that elevates one group over another. Also includes intolerance jokes or slurs."

AFA California leader Scott Lively is a co-author of The Pink Swastika, which claims that many leaders in the German Nazi regime, including Hitler himself, were homosexual and claims eight of the top ten serial killers in the US were homosexuals.

Southern Poverty Law Center has stated one of AFA's goals is to "help drive the religious right's anti-gay crusade." Organizations, such as Human Rights Campaign, GLAAD, Southern Voice, People for the American Way, and The Advocate have labeled the AFA as an "anti-gay" group.

Divisions and Operations

AFA.net: primary website of the American Family Association. Contains links to other AFA divisions, projects, news archives, etc. The main page also contains links to news stories from OneNewsNow.
AFA Foundation: a website providing “charitable giving and estate design tools” oriented towards Christian charities.
AFA Journal: monthly publication containing news, features, columns, and interviews. In addition to the publication, AFA Journal articles are made available online.
American Family Radio: a network of more than 150 AFA-owned radio stations broadcasting Christian-oriented programming.
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.
OneMillionDads.com: activism for fathers.
OneMillionMoms.com: activism for mothers.
OneNewsNow: AFA news division. Provides news articles, AP stories, and opinion columns. Formerly AgapePress and the news division of American Family Radio.

References

, AFA - about us
AFA about page, AFA website
Family Advocate Condemns Nike's Support for Oregon Civil Unions, AFA website
^
American Girl Boycott
Target Boycott
The Day They Kicked God Out of the Schools
Homosexuality in America, AFA website
"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)
Argetsinger, Amy (2007-01-03). "But It's Thomas Jefferson's Koran!". Reliable Source. Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-01-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
Antigay group blocked by filter, Cnet News
"People & Events". http://www.mbherald.com/ Mennonite Brethren Herald]. 1999-11-05. Retrieved 2007-06-14. In their controversial book, The Pink Swastika, Scott Lively and Kevin Abrams assert that many leading members of the Nazi party in Germany were homosexuals. They also claim that eight of the top ten serial killers in the US were homosexuals, including Donald Garvey, John Wayne Gacy, Patrick Wayne Kearney, Bruce Davis and Jeffrey Dahmer. The Apr. 22 Globe and Mail reported that the Columbine high school killers 'professed to be bisexuals'. – RTV Bulletin, Western Report {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help); External link in |publisher= (help)
"Religious Right Groups Involved in Antigay Incidents". People For the American Way. Retrieved 2007-06-14. the controversial book, The Pink Swastika,
[http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Room&CONTENTID=27160&TEMPLAdE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm
News Operations Merge to Create OneNewsNow.com, AFA website

External links

ProCon's AFA Biography

Categories:

Revision as of 03:00, 19 June 2007 editOrpheus (talk \| contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers3,771 edits Restored information.← Previous edit		Revision as of 03:56, 19 June 2007 edit undoCitadel18080 (talk \| contribs)417 edits Removed part of Ellison incident that violates Misplaced Pages policy. See talk page.Next edit →
Line 23:		Line 23:
	The American Family Association's many publications and statements claim that ] is a choice and that it can be changed.<ref name="Homosexuality in America">, AFA website</ref> In 2000, Vice president Tim Wildmon spoke out against ] clubs in schools, stating "We view these kinds of clubs as an advancement of the homosexual cause."<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues/issues149.shtml\|title=Gay-Straight Alliances: Ground Zero for School Tolerance\|publisher=\|date=]\|accessdate=2007-04-30}}</ref>		The American Family Association's many publications and statements claim that ] is a choice and that it can be changed.<ref name="Homosexuality in America">, AFA website</ref> In 2000, Vice president Tim Wildmon spoke out against ] clubs in schools, stating "We view these kinds of clubs as an advancement of the homosexual cause."<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues/issues149.shtml\|title=Gay-Straight Alliances: Ground Zero for School Tolerance\|publisher=\|date=]\|accessdate=2007-04-30}}</ref>

	On ], ], following the election of ], the first ] elected to the ], the AFA released an article entitled "A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in oath". In this article, the AFA, backed by conservative radio hosts such as ] and ], made the claim that it is un-American to swear an oath on any book other than the Bible, and that such an oath is not valid. This contradicted House procedure, where members of Congress simply stand at their seats, raise their right hand and recite "I do" in unison after the oath is read by the Speaker. The AFA urged members to contact Congressmen to pass a law stipulating that all oaths for federal office must invoke the Bible. ~~However, requiring holy books in swearing in ceremonies would violate Article VI of the ] regarding religious tests for office, according to legal experts like Eugene Volokh.<ref>, ]</ref>~~ Ellison took a ceremonial oath using ]'s personal copy of the Koran at a photo-op after the session.<ref>{{cite web\| last = Argetsinger\| first = Amy\| coauthors = Roxanne Roberts\| title = But It's Thomas Jefferson's Koran!\| work = Reliable Source\| publisher = Washington Post\| date = 2007-01-03\| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/03/AR2007010300075.html\| accessdate = 2007-01-04}}</ref>		On ], ], following the election of ], the first ] elected to the ], the AFA released an article entitled "A first for America...The Koran replaces the Bible at swearing-in oath". In this article, the AFA, backed by conservative radio hosts such as ] and ], made the claim that it is un-American to swear an oath on any book other than the Bible, and that such an oath is not valid. This contradicted House procedure, where members of Congress simply stand at their seats, raise their right hand and recite "I do" in unison after the oath is read by the Speaker. The AFA urged members to contact Congressmen to pass a law stipulating that all oaths for federal office must invoke the Bible. Ellison took a ceremonial oath using ]'s personal copy of the Koran at a photo-op after the session.<ref>{{cite web\| last = Argetsinger\| first = Amy\| coauthors = Roxanne Roberts\| title = But It's Thomas Jefferson's Koran!\| work = Reliable Source\| publisher = Washington Post\| date = 2007-01-03\| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/03/AR2007010300075.html\| accessdate = 2007-01-04}}</ref>

	The AFA's activism has long been opposed by civil liberties organizations, especially the ] (ACLU), and ] ], both of whom charge that its policies directly violate the First Amendment. They also argue that many legal restrictions on individual liberty favored by the AFA require a loose interpretation of the Interstate ] of the ].{{Fact\|date=June 2007}}		The AFA's activism has long been opposed by civil liberties organizations, especially the ] (ACLU), and ] ], both of whom charge that its policies directly violate the First Amendment. They also argue that many legal restrictions on individual liberty favored by the AFA require a loose interpretation of the Interstate ] of the ].{{Fact\|date=June 2007}}