TWO Calls On The Republican Party to Denounce The American Family Association After Racist Rant By AFA Radio Host Bryan Fischer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Wayne Besen
Phone: 917-691-5118
E-Mail: wbesen@truthwinsout.org

Truth Wins Out Calls On The Republican Party to Denounce The American Family Association After Racist Rant By AFA Radio Host Bryan Fischer

Republican Presidential Candidates Should Withdraw From Future AFA-Sponsored Pastor Policy Briefings

BURLINGTON, Vt. – Truth Wins Out called on the Republican Party to denounce comments made today by the American Family Association’s Bryan Fischer, director of issue analysis, after he published a racist rant on the AFA’s website. TWO also asserted that all GOP presidential nominees, including those who are undecided, should stop attending controversial Pastor Policy Briefings that are bankrolled, in part, by the AFA. According to Truth Wins Out, Fischer’s latest remarks show why the AFA is a Southern Poverty Law Center-certified hate group.

“Welfare has destroyed the African-American family by telling young black women that husbands and fathers are unnecessary and obsolete,” said Fischer.  “Welfare has subsidized illegitimacy by offering financial rewards to women who have more children out of wedlock. We have incentivized fornication rather than marriage, and it’s no wonder we are now awash in the disastrous social consequences of people who rut like rabbits.”

“It is deeply troubling that leading Republican presidential candidates are pandering to extremists to try to win the nomination,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “We strongly urge these candidates to show some leadership by speaking out against such intolerance and withdrawing from American Family Association sponsored Pastor Policy Briefings.”

Pastor Policy Briefings are AFA-backed forums that are intended to galvanize the Religious Right in a presidential election year. They are organized by David Lane and have attracted politicians who are testing the presidential waters, including Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.).

On Feb. 10, Truth Wins Out called on the American Family Association to fire Fischer after he published an offensive online column, “Native Americans Morally Disqualified Themselves From the Land.” According to the original article written by Fischer:

“In all the discussions about the European settlement of the New World, one feature has been conspicuously absent: the role that the superstition, savagery and sexual immorality of native Americans played in making them morally disqualified from sovereign control of American soil.”

The AFA is a Tupelo, Mississippi-based organization known for launching failed boycotts against The Walt Disney Company, Home Depot, Wal Mart, Ford Motor Company and McDonalds. The group once accused Mighty Mouse of snorting cocaine.

“It is unconscionable that any politician would want to be associated with the AFA, given the group’s level of hatred and hostility for minorities,” said TWO’s Besen. “This fringe group debases — rather than defends  — the American family.”

The American Family Association also peddles “It’s Not Gay,” a DVD featuring Michael Johnston, who claims that he went from gay to straight through prayer. The AFA conveniently omits the fact that Johnston had to be shuffled off to a sex addiction facility in 2003 for allegations of group sex with men.

Truth Wins Out is a non-profit organization that fights anti-LGBT religious extremism. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.

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