American Family Association

American Family Association is a non-profit organization based in Tupelo, Mississippi, founded by Donald Wildmon in 1977. The organization is known for its conservative and Christian right views, and has been involved in various boycotts and protests against companies and individuals that it perceives as promoting LGBT rights, abortion, and other issues that it considers to be contrary to its values. The organization has been associated with notable figures such as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and James Dobson, and has been involved in high-profile campaigns against companies like Disney, Ford Motor Company, and Home Depot. The organization's activities have been covered by major media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, and Fox News.

● History

The American Family Association was founded in 1977 by Donald Wildmon, a United Methodist minister, with the goal of promoting Christian values and opposing what it saw as immorality in the media and popular culture. In the 1980s, the organization gained national attention for its boycotts of companies like 7-Eleven and Kmart, which it accused of promoting pornography and other forms of obscenity. The organization also campaigned against MTV and other music channels, which it claimed were promoting secular humanism and moral relativism. During this period, the organization worked with other conservative groups, such as Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council, to promote its agenda. The organization's efforts were also supported by notable figures like Phyllis Schlafly and Paul Weyrich.

● Organization and Finances

The American Family Association is a non-profit organization that is funded by donations from its members and supporters. The organization has a annual budget of around $20 million, which it uses to fund its various activities and campaigns. The organization is headed by a board of directors, which includes notable figures like Tim Wildmon, the son of the founder, and Bryan Fischer, a former director of issues analysis. The organization also has a number of affiliate organizations, including the American Family Association Action, which is a lobbying arm that works to promote the organization's agenda in Washington, D.C.. The organization's finances have been scrutinized by groups like People For the American Way and the Southern Poverty Law Center, which have accused the organization of using its funds to promote hate speech and discrimination.

● Activities and Controversies

The American Family Association has been involved in a number of high-profile campaigns and controversies over the years, including its boycott of Disney in the 1990s, which it accused of promoting LGBT rights and abortion. The organization has also campaigned against companies like Ford Motor Company and Home Depot, which it accused of promoting LGBT rights and feminism. In 2010, the organization launched a campaign against CNN and other media outlets, which it accused of promoting Islam and Sharia law. The organization's activities have been criticized by groups like the Anti-Defamation League and the Human Rights Campaign, which have accused the organization of promoting hate speech and discrimination. The organization has also been involved in controversies surrounding its views on evolution and climate change, which it has accused of being pseudoscience and liberal propaganda.

● Positions and Stances

The American Family Association has taken a number of positions on various issues, including LGBT rights, abortion, and gun control. The organization opposes same-sex marriage and has campaigned against companies that promote LGBT rights. The organization also opposes abortion and has campaigned against companies that provide abortion services, such as Planned Parenthood. The organization supports gun rights and has campaigned against gun control measures, which it sees as an infringement on Second Amendment rights. The organization's positions have been influenced by notable figures like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, and have been supported by groups like the National Rifle Association and the Susan B. Anthony List.

● Criticism and Reception

The American Family Association has been criticized by a number of groups and individuals, including LGBT rights organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and GLAAD. The organization has also been criticized by civil liberties groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and People For the American Way, which have accused the organization of promoting hate speech and discrimination. The organization has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has accused the organization of promoting anti-LGBT and anti-Muslim views. Despite these criticisms, the organization remains a prominent voice in conservative and Christian right circles, and continues to be supported by notable figures like Mike Huckabee and Ted Cruz. The organization's activities have been covered by major media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, and Fox News, and have been the subject of numerous documentaries and books, including The New York Times bestseller The Theocons by Damien Fowler. Category:American Family Association