Here they are...the groups which are actively fighting to take away your Constitutional rights and liberties. Their tactics differ...some lobby Congress, other preach lies on television...but they all share the goal of shoving gays back into the closet, and will stop at nothing to remake America into a theocracy where they are the self-appointed representatives of God on Earth.
"Religious right" vs "radical right"
These are two terms for the group of people who oppose equal rights for gays and lesbians. In this section, I have used the term "radical right" because "religious right" is innacurate. There are many devout and religious people who are in favor of equal rights, and who accept gays and lesbians fully into their churches and society. To imply that those who oppose equal rights do so because they are "religious" demans all people of faith who do not share those views.
The term "radical right" on the other hand is more accurate. These groups are certainly on the right side of the political spectrum, and many of their views are radically different from those of most Americans. Thus, the term "radical right" is what I am going to use here.
Christian Coalition
1-800-325-4746
http://www.cc.org
Founded by Pat Robertson after his unsuccessful 1988 Presidential Campaign, the Christian Coalition has become Americas most powerful special interest group. It contributes millions to candidates, and its less than evenhanded voters guides, distributed at friendly churches days before elections have swayed many major races. This is the public (read: mainstream) face of the Radical Right. The CC generally tones its rhetoric and says "all the right things" when covered in the media.
Promise Keepers
1-800-888-7595
http://www.promisekeepers.org
Bill McCartney, former football coach for the University of Colorado founded this men's ministry in 1992. It has grown into an impressive force, and recently brought nearly 1 million men to Washington for a rally. The Promise Keepers eschew harsh rhetoric, and rather call for men to atone for their sins and treat their families well. Additionally, PK has a strong multi-ethnic flavor to it. PK is still a force to be concerned about, because its leader, McCartney, is one of the US's leading homophobes.
Focus on the Family
1-719-531-3400
http://www.fotf.org
James Dobson's ministry has turned into a business empire which takes in hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Dobson's radio programs and his folksy advice are heard on thousands of radio stations. FOTF is perhaps the most influential but least well known of the radical right groups. Dobson himself is virulently homophobic and has used his large audience as a bully pulpit to pass along his anti-gay views to millions who listen to him for child-rearing and family tips.
Family Research Council
1-202-393-2100
http://www.frc.org
Led by Gary Bauer, the FRC was a division of Focus on the Family until it split off for tax reasons. Today is is a major think tank and lobbying organization, always ready with an "expert witness" for Congressional testimony, or a quick press release condemning an advance in equal rights.
Concerned Women for America
1-800-458-8797
http://www.cwfa.org
CWA is the nation's largest conservative Christian women's organization
with chapters in 50 states. Led by Beverly LaHaye, this group is virulently anti-gay. Its web site features numerous attacks on "the gay teen suicide myth" same-sex marriage, and other issues of concern to gays and lesbians.
American Family Association
1-601-844-5036
http://www.afa.net
Led by Donald Wildmon, the AFA specializes in leading corporate boycotts. The AFA's main interests are fighting pornography, depictions of sexuality, and positive portrayals of gays in art and in the media. They have led the attack on ABC for showing "Ellen" as well as any other company which dares acknowledge gay customers, such as American Airlines.
Exodus International (and associates)
1-206-784-7799
http://www.stonewallrevisted.com
Located ironically enough in very gay-friendly Seattle, Exodus bills itself as the largest "gay reclamation" ministry. Exodus promotes the conversion of gay men and lesbians to heterosexuals through therapy and submission to Jesus Christ. Proving that turnabout is fair play, the founders of Exodus have since denounced their creation as a mistake and something which hurts thousands of very vulnerable people.
The National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality
1-818-789-4440
http://www.narth.com
NARTH is the leading pseudo-scientific group claiming to be able to "cure" gays and lesbians. Their mission statement reads: "A Non-Profit Psychoanalytic, Educational Organization Dedicated to Research, Therapy and Prevention of Homosexuality." They are led by disbarred former psychiatrist Charles W. Socarides.
The Eagle Forum
1-618-462-5415
http://www.basenet.net/~eagle/eagle.html
Founded and led by Phyllis Schlafly, its best known campaign was against
the ERA. It is active across a wide variety of conservative causes, including opposition to equal rights for gays.
Traditional Values Coalition
1-714-520-0300
http://www.traditionalvalues.org/
Lou Sheldon leads this organization. It places opposition to equal rights for gays high on its agenda.
American Center for Law and Justice
1-804-579-2489
http://www.aclj.org/
The ACLJ is the conservative version of the ACLU. Founded by Pat Robertson, the ACLJ files nuisance suits against gay rights laws, and generally does as much as it can through the legal system to hold up the cause of equal rights. For example, in the Hawaii marriage case, it has files several "friend of the court" briefs against same-sex marriages, and has filed suit against San Francisco's gay rights ordinance.
Heritage Foundation
1-202-546-4400
http://www.heritage.org/
The Heritage Foundation is the right's primary think tank. It boasts an enormous budget, and a ready supply of guest commentators on nearly every issue for America's opinion pages. Opposing equal rights for gays is one topic they are actively promoting.
The Report
1-800-462-4700 and 1-800-452-NEWS
http://www.americansfortruth.com/ plus opposing views at http://qrd.rdrop.com/qrd/religion/anti/the.lambda.report
Peter LaBarbera leads this small but influential publishing house. They have produced the infamous "Gay Agenda" video, and put out a monthly magazine called "The Lambda Report" which is singularly vicious in how low it stoops with its attacks. For more on the Lambda Report's tactics, follow the second URL above.
Westboro Baptist Church
1-785-273-0325
http://www.godhatesfags.com and http://revwhite.bestsites.net
Far from being a real church, Westoboro Baptist is actually a small cult consisting of the extended family of Fred Phelps, and are located in a compound in Topeka, KS. They are perhaps best known for flying around the country picketing the funerals of AIDS victims and gay pride parades holding signs saying "God Hates Fags" and other assorted witticisms. While it may be tempting to dismiss Phelps as a buffoon, he actually has considerable influence in the shadowy militia/reconstructionist underground.
Rutherford Institute
1-804-978-3888
http://www.rutherford.org/
This is the primary institution behind a form of Christianity known as Reconstuctionism. The primary tenet of this faith is a belief that America must be remade as a pure white "Christian" nation with old-testament Biblical law as the law of the land. Reconstructionism is very influential amongst the milita movement. John Rushdooney is their patriarch. State-mandated executions of gays is amongst the Biblical law they wish to implement.
Operation Rescue
1-407-259-9557
http://www.operationrescue.org/
Led by Randall Terry, Operation Rescue is perhaps best known for blockading abortion clinics; however, with the decline of abortion as a major issue, they are branching out into anti-gay activities as well. They advocate the use of force against gays and lesbians, including imprisonment and execution, and have considerable influence amongst the far, far right.
American Life League
1-540-659-4171
http://hebron.ee.gannon.edu/~frezza/plae/contents.html
Another violent anti-abortion group that has added homosexuality to its list. Follow the link above to visit the Pro Life Encyclopedia, a guide to their complete beliefs system. It contains some very violently anti-gay material.
