Americans for Truth about Homosexuality

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]

Americans for Truth
about Homosexuality
Founded1996
FounderPeter LaBarbera
54-1829289 (EIN)
Focus"To expose the homosexual activist agenda"
Location
Revenue
$110,000 (2009)[1]
Websiteamericansfortruth.com

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

References
  1. "IRS Form 990 federal tax return" (PDF). GuideStar. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  2. "About Americans for Truth and Founder Peter LaBarbera". Americans for Truth. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  3. "About Americans for Truth and Founder Peter LaBarbera". AFTAH. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  4. "First civil unions". Daily Herald. Arlington Heights, IL. June 3, 2011. Archived from the original on July 20, 2023.
  5. Dininny, Shannon (January 16, 2012). "Civil-rights history gets boost; Whitman College students to teach subject this week". The Seattle Times. Seattle, WA.
  6. Cruz, Hector (August 26, 2010). "Naperville anti-gay group slams Elisabeth Hasselbeck for recent pro-gay marriage remarks". Chicago Examiner. 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. Harmon, Andrew. "IRS Revokes Antigay Group's Tax Exempt Status". The Advocate. Archived from the original on 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2011-08-02.
  8. LaBarbera, Peter. "IRS Reinstates Americans For Truth About Homosexuality as 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization". Americans For Truth About Homosexuality. Archived from the original on December 23, 2013. Retrieved December 23, 2013.
  9. "Americans for Truth About". IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  10. Schlatter, Evelyn (November 4, 2010). "18 anti-gay groups and their propaganda". Intelligence Report. Southern Poverty Law Center.
  11. Thurman, Skip (November 7, 1997). "Clinton to Openly Advocate Gay Rights". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  12. Cichon, Kathy (August 31, 2009). "Christian group sues Naperville hotel". The Herald News. Joliet, IL. Archived from the original on January 25, 2013. Retrieved September 9, 2012.
  13. Witkowski, D'Anne (July 30, 2009). "Creep of the Week: Peter LaBarbera". Between the Lines. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2012.

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