What's in Their Closet?
The AFA has a criminal record. Click on the link below to read a special investigative report on their illegal activities:
- AFA not licensed to solicit donations in Michigan
- AFA funded the anti-gay campaign to repeal Ferndale's human rights ordinance. They produced literature that did not identify themselves which was a violation of the law.
- AFA National violated copyright laws and were ordered by a NY Judge to stop distributing a misrepresented piece of art that the AFA thought was offensive. The piece had been funded by the NEA and AFA had circulated it to 4000 churches and many others encouraging people to blast the NEA for "lewd" art. The judge forced the AFA to issue a correction to the 4000 churches.
- The AFA activist in Florida, David Caton, formed a new group in the early 90's called "Take Back Tampa" to fight gay rights measures and gay friendly candidates for office. The group endorsed a slate of candidates for local, state and national office. After the election it was revealed that the group had accepted $28,000 in contributions from churches and other tax-exempt organizations. The group violated Florida election laws because it accepted donations in excess of state limits.
- AFA Texas violated the Texas Ethics Ordinance by not filing on time after working on a campaign. They actually missed the deadline several times and were fined 100$ and paid it each time. The Texas AFA chapter was almost dealt with directly by that state's Attorney General. Texas Triangle 1/19/96
Notable AFA Misbehavior:
- AFA Accused of Anti-Semitism
- How Absurd, Right-Wing and Outrageous is the AFA?
- Violated their non-profit status on many occasions in Michigan when it used its resources to directly influence the election of a candidate.
- AFA have violated their tax-exempt status when they attacked openly gay Republican candidate for Midland County Commission, Paul Wright just before his primary. They attacked him publicly on the sole basis of his sexual orientation.
- AFA Michigan attacked several moderate Republicans right before their primaries in 2000 like State Reps. Judith Scranton, Pan Godchaux, Mike Pumford, Sandy Caul and others because they did not vote for an anti-gay measure in the legislature.
- AFA works agressively to support internet filters in libraries. AFA Michigan President Gary Glenn feels so strongly about the influence of "adult" material on the internet that he told people at an Ann Arbor gathering that "...the most dangerous place for a child today is in a public library." Trying to argue that "adult" material is dangerous is a stretch for many people. Stating that libraries with unfiltered internet access are the "most dangerous" place for a child is radical, inaccurate and panic-ridden.
- The AFA of Michigan has said they want to repeal the state's hate crime law. This law is the only tool in Michigan to address tougher penalties for hate violence against women, and racial and religious minorities. Over 40 states have hate crime laws and they enjoy high levels of public support. AFA's effort to repeal hate crime laws should concern everyone. Why would they want to remove the protections that African-Americans, Jews and others have worked so hard to obtain?
- The AFA is an extremely conservative organization. They are so conservative that The Right Guide (www.rightguide.com) lists them on the same list as other notoriously right-wing organizations such as the John Birch Society, which supports white supremacy. Also on that list is the Promise Keepers which supports the concept of women "submitting" to their husbands. PK has come under national scrutiny for being homophobic and misogynistic.
- The AFA and the religious right have changed their message in recent years to one that argues: "Love the sinner, hate the sin." They argue that they do not hate GLBT people they just hate the sin of homosexual sex. This is a thinly veiled argument because if they truly were compassionate and loving toward GLBT people they would stop trying to force their morality on our lives and bodies.
They argue that hate is a good thing and that God condones it against homosexuals. "...hate is an absolutely necessary family value for the traditional American family. Without the value of hate, one could not differentiate between good and evil, to love what is good and hate what is evil."