Americans for Truth about Homosexuality explained

Americans for Truth
about Homosexuality
Founder:Peter LaBarbera
Tax Id:54-1829289 (EIN)
Location:Naperville, Illinois
Founded Date:1996
Focus:"To expose the homosexual activist agenda"
Revenue:$110,000 (2009)[1]

Americans for Truth about Homosexuality (AFTAH) is an organization which describes its mission as "exposing the homosexual activist agenda".[2] AFTAH rejects the idea that sexual orientation is innate and believes that people can "leave the homosexual lifestyle".[3] AFTAH contends that there is a fundamental conflict between gay rights and religious freedom.[4] The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) designated it as an anti-LGBT hate group.[5] [6]

History

AFTAH was formed as a part-time enterprise in 1996 to oppose the "radical homosexual agenda." It was reorganized in 2006 by Peter LaBarbera.[3] It was a 501(c)(3) United States tax-exempt organization until stripped of that designation in 2010, following years of failing to file the appropriate paperwork.[7] AFTAH's tax exempt status was reinstated in 2012[8] but again revoked in 2015.[9]

AFTAH is notable for using discredited work of Paul Cameron of the Family Research Institute which claims that gays and lesbians live vastly shorter lives than heterosexuals.[10]

Activism

In 1997, LaBarbera, then an editor for the Family Research Council, criticized US President Bill Clinton for supporting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) stating: "He's out there using his presidential power to boost the gay lobby. I think there is an increasing acceptance [of homosexuality], but the majority of Americans are put off by the kind of homosexual advocacy they are seeing."[11]

In 2009, AFTAH filed a lawsuit in US federal court against a Naperville, Illinois, Holiday Inn Select, because of the cancellation of a banquet the AFTAH planned to hold October 6, 2007, at the hotel. The hotel cancelled the AFTAH event after learning that it would likely draw protests from the Chicago-based Gay Liberation Network.[12] That same year, LaBarbera, while speaking at the Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ Conference, called for a government study of the dangers of homosexual sex.[13]

Criticism

In 2010, AFTAH was designated as an anti-gay hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for spreading "hateful propaganda", and claiming that homosexuality can be "cured".[5] [6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: IRS Form 990 federal tax return . GuideStar . October 1, 2012.
  2. Web site: About Americans for Truth and Founder Peter LaBarbera . Americans for Truth . August 2, 2011 . September 3, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110903105302/http://www.aftah.org/about/ . dead .
  3. Web site: About Americans for Truth and Founder Peter LaBarbera. AFTAH. September 9, 2012.
  4. News: First civil unions. Daily Herald. June 3, 2011. Arlington Heights, IL. July 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230720033349/https://www.gale.com/databases/questia. dead.
  5. News: Dininny. Shannon. Civil-rights history gets boost; Whitman College students to teach subject this week. The Seattle Times. January 16, 2012. Seattle, WA.
  6. News: Cruz. Hector. Naperville anti-gay group slams Elisabeth Hasselbeck for recent pro-gay marriage remarks. Chicago Examiner. August 26, 2010. Chicago, IL. Earlier this year, AFTAH was labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for spreading hateful proganda, and claiming that homosexuality can be cured..
  7. Web site: Harmon . Andrew . IRS Revokes Antigay Group's Tax Exempt Status . https://web.archive.org/web/20120215065054/http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2011/08/01/IRS_Revokes_Antigay_Groups_Tax_Exempt_Status/ . dead . 2012-02-15 . The Advocate . 2011-08-02 . mdy .
  8. Web site: LaBarbera . Peter . IRS Reinstates Americans For Truth About Homosexuality as 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization . Americans For Truth About Homosexuality . 2013-12-23 . https://archive.today/20131223072025/http://americansfortruth.com/2012/10/10/irs-reinstates-americans-for-truth-about-homoseality-as-501c3-tax-exempt-organization/ . December 23, 2013 . dead . mdy-all .
  9. Web site: Americans for Truth About . IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search . May 15, 2019.
  10. Evelyn . Schlatter . 18 anti-gay groups and their propaganda . November 4, 2010 . Intelligence Report . Southern Poverty Law Center .
  11. News: Thurman. Skip. Clinton to Openly Advocate Gay Rights. September 9, 2012. The Christian Science Monitor. November 7, 1997.
  12. News: Cichon. Kathy. Christian group sues Naperville hotel. https://archive.today/20130125112934/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-12AC7BC0A1812600.html. dead. January 25, 2013. September 9, 2012. The Herald News. August 31, 2009. Joliet, IL.
  13. News: Witkowski. D'Anne. Creep of the Week: Peter LaBarbera. https://web.archive.org/web/20160325041735/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-2045888441.html. dead. March 25, 2016. September 9, 2012. Between the Lines. July 30, 2009.

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