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The American Family Association (AFA) is a . 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."12 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 Christian . 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." :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 believes that a Homosexual Agenda will lead to excessive social and economic costs, and discriminates against people of any religion that does not agree with equal rights for homosexuals. :Money and finance: The AFA provides information on its website about avoiding debt problems, particularly aimed at families with children. :Pornography: The AFA is actively involved in the debate over pornography, in particular pornography on the internet and mature content in television programs and other media. :Abortion: The AFA takes a strong public stance against abortion. 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; s.http://www.afa.net/issues/ AFA Issueshttp://www3.capwiz.com/afanet/home/ AFA Activism 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 , Obscenity . 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.3 Boycotts As of July 2007, the AFA is promoting a . 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.4 In 2005, AFA boycotted the company American Girl , seller of dolls and accessories, because the company supported the chairty Girls, Inc. ,5 and Target for its lack of the word " Christmas " in its advertising.6 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 ,7 Sears ,8 S. C. Johnson & Son , and American Airlines .910 Un-successful boycotts In 1996, AFA launched a boycott against . Tim Wildmon stated "We feel after nine years of boycotting Disney we have made our point." Successful boycotts In 1986, . 2006-01-06 . Retrieved on 2007-09-04 . 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 . Retrieved on 2007-06-16 . ( archived link ) In 2000, . 2000-11-10 . Retrieved on 2007-09-04 . Some psychologists complained the advertisements would encourage pedophilia."Calvin Klein bows to campaign critics". '' New York Times ''. 1999-02-19 "Merry Christmas" boycotts See Also: 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 Marriage s Political activism In 2000, the AFA failed to persuade . Retrieved on 2007-08-20 . On (published on LookSmart FindArticles). 2006-12-26 . Retrieved on 2007-06-17 . 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."1112 The homosexual agenda The AFA expresses public concern over what it refers to as the homosexual agenda. The organisation claims that " Scripture declares that Homosexuality is unnatural and sinful", among other principles relating to LGBT issues. 13 The AFA often focuses on homosexual issues and publicizes statements abouts Ex-gay s, who claim homosexuality is a choice and that it can be changed.14 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."15 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.16 On the website Published media The AFA has distributed 400,000 copies of the "Fight Back Book", a guide to television advertisers, products, and advertisements. In 1994, the AFA launched a "war on divorce" by developing and distributing the "Marriage Savers" video series. 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.17 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."18 Organizations, such as Human Rights Campaign ,19 GLAAD , Southern Voice ,20 People For The American Way ,21 The Advocate ,2223 CNET , and 365 gay 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.24 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."2526 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:27 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.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.” 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 '' 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 . ( archived link ) 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 180,00028 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." 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.29 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 SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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