Miami Beach, FLA. — Truth Wins Out today called on Focus on the Family’ leader James Dobson to apologize for his egregious pattern of lies and for disrespecting his own followers in regard to his gross distortion of research in a TIME Magazine article.In a recent edition of TIME, Dobson wrote a guest opinion article condemning same-sex parents and demeaning Mary Cheney’ pregnancy. To back his viewpoint, Dobson quoted two esteemed researchers, Dr. Carol Gilligan of New York University and Dr. Kyle Pruett of Yale University. Both researchers swiftly wrote letters to TIME and Dobson claiming he distorted their research. If this wasn’t humiliating enough, in the same week, Angela Phillips, author of “The Trouble With Boys,” and professor at Goldsmiths College in London, said she was “incensed” to find she was misquoted in another Dobson article.
On Focus on the Family’ website, Dobson defended himself by insinuating that these professors were “liberal” and “politically correct.” If this is true, it begs the question why Dobson quoted these researchers in the first place. It seems he only objected to their work once they accused him of a shady manipulation of science. Furthermore, Dobson has failed to point out to loyal Focus on the Family members that this is the sixth time in less than a year that a venerated professor has accused him of misusing research.
“If “Double-Talk Dobson’ had been accused by only one professor of manipulating research, it might be a legitimate mistake,” said Truth Wins Out’ Executive Director Wayne Besen. “However, when six researches in three countries have stepped forward in less than a year, I think it is fair to say that a pattern of lies has emerged. This is particularly disrespectful to Focus on the Family members who see Dobson as the nation’ grandfather, when he is really a grand forger of the facts.”
Focus on the Family also accused Truth Wins Out’ Wayne Besen of “convincing some of the scientists, whose research Dobson quotes, to complain.”
“While I feel honored by Dobson’ assessment of my persuasive capabilities, I can assure him that the only convincing that occurred was pointing out Dobson’ slippery use of their respected work,” said Besen. “In the name of scientific integrity, the researchers felt it was necessary to urge Dobson to stop “cherry-picking’ and twisting their research.”
Dobson’ trouble began when he started quoting legitimate researchers to back his anti-gay propaganda campaigns. In the past, Dobson avoided such conflicts by citing pseudo-scientific organizations such as the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH). Joseph Nicolosi, NARTH’ leader, recently stepped down after a key member of his scientific Advisory Board wrote a polemic justifying slavery. Yet, Nicolosi is still a keynote speaker at Dobson’ anti-gay Love Won Out conferences.
“I suspect that Dobson will return to citing fake or discredited researchers who don’t publish peer reviewed articles,” said Besen. “Each time he misquotes real scientists it boomerangs and puts a spotlight on his truth challenged ministry.”
Truth Wins OUT is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life. For more information, visit www.TruthWinsOut.org.
