Issues@Hand
AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs
April 1995 – AT&T, reeling from American Family Association’s exposure of their pro-homosexual agenda, told the Boston Sunday Globe that suing AFA is an option they have to stop the effort.
“Burke Stinson, an AT&T spokesman in New Jersey, said the (AFA) ad mischaracterizes AT&T’s efforts” regarding their stand on homosexuality, the paper stated. “[Stinson] said the company was not an official sponsor of the Gay Games but did have a sales booth at the event. AT&T includes information about gays as part of its in-house programs on workplace diversity and sexual harassment.
“‘They say it’s “indoctrination,” but we just do not brook intolerant behavior aimed at gays,’ Stinson said. The American Family Association flyer ‘is not fair-minded and redefines our efforts in a repugnant way. Are we going to sue them? Well, that’s an option. We haven’t pursued it yet,’” the Globe reported.
Responding to the threat of a suit, AFA president Donald E. Wildmon said that if what AFA has reported concerning AT&T isn’t true, they should sue. “We stand by the information we have reported concerning AT&T’s promotion of homosexuality. The problem is that AT&T doesn’t want the public to know how involved AT&T is in promoting the homosexual agenda.”
AT&T participated in OUT Loud, the first annual Lesbian and Gay Cultural and Business Expo, a homosexual “business and cultural expo” in New York which featured “a haunted house where visitors journey through the twisted mind of the radical right,” according to the New York Daily News.
AT&T has also established a policy of letting homosexual employees place a pink triangle in their work areas. The sticker identifies a homosexual-friendly work area, giving the message that the company approves of this lifestyle and employees who disagree are out of step with company policy.
AT&T participated in the Northalsted Market Days Festival, which, among other things, offered product awareness to Chicago’s gay and lesbian community, having a sales booth staffed by AT&T people at the festival.
In perhaps the most telling interview regarding AT&T’s policy promoting homosexuality, Stinson told Family News in Focus that AT&T support for the Gay Games was equal to support for the Special Olympics, the games for handicapped individuals.
AT&T has promoted a Gay and Lesbian Awareness Week, held “homophobia” workshops to promote the acceptance of homosexuality to their managers and observed a “Gay Pride Month.” The company has also sponsored the homosexual musical Falsettos; used radical homosexual Brian McNaught’s video “On Being Gay” to indoctrinate AT&T employees; and promoted the use of “comprehensive” sex education programs which advocate homosexuality. AT&T has been among the top sponsors of pro-homosexual programs on television. The National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association in 1993 named AT&T as “progressive” because of their support for homosexual causes.
LEAGUE (Lesbian and Gay United Employees of AT&T) is the homosexual organization set up by AT&T inside their company to help support their homosexual employees.
At a LEAGUE conference in Boston, Jerre Stead, chairman and CEO of AT&T Global Information Solutions, called on AT&T employees to help devise a legal definition of marriage so the company can work on extending domestic partner benefits to employees.
AT&T feels that homosexuality is an area in which their employees need to be educated. Anne B. Fritz, Division Manager - EO/AA & Diversity for AT&T, said: “At the heart of many such negative behaviors, I firmly believe, is a lack of appropriate education and awareness. Thus, the purpose of gay and lesbian employee information is a way to heighten sensitivities and awareness, allay fears, break down stereotypes and minimize negative behaviors and/or treatment (by heterosexuals) of gay and lesbian employees.”
John Klenert, co-chair of the Washington chapter of LEAGUE, told The Washington Blade, a newspaper which caters to homosexuals, that “the company requires that all management and nonmanagement personnel go through ‘affirmative action’ training. After the session is over, you have to sign forms which say you attended the session and understand the company’s non-discrimination policies. They make a big deal out of it which is good.”
According to Stinson, “Gay rights is the issue of the ’90s, just as civil rights was in the ’60s and women’s rights was in the ’70s.”
AT&T conducted a workshop on “Homophobia In The Workplace.” Says AT&T: “The goal of this workshop is to facilitate optimum productivity by addressing behaviors which result from negative attitudes regarding homosexuality. The workshop surfaces examples of homophobic behaviors which affect productivity, provides the opportunity for employees to examine and articulate their feelings about homosexuality and homophobia, presents accurate information and reinforces the corporation’s commitment to provide a work environment which is free from discriminatory practices.”
AT&T went on to say that the workshop enables participants to replace myths with accurate information about homosexuality, explore effects of homophobia on all employees, identify strategies for eliminating destructive homophobic behaviors from the workplace, and examine and articulate their feelings about homosexuality and homophobia.
AT&T makes available to their employees and management personnel video cassette tapes to help promote homosexuality. “On Being Gay,” “Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays,” and “Gay and Lesbian People in the Workplace: What are Issues” are among the videos AT&T makes available.
AFA encourages supporters who wish to switch long distance carriers to switch to LifeLine. LifeLines’s rates are usually 4-8% less than AT&T’s. The switch can be made at no cost and without any loss of service. LifeLine uses fiber-optics lines. Calling cards are available. LifeLine is available to individuals, businesses and churches. To switch call 1-800-990-0109. Ten percent of your charges will be donated to AFA. Tell LifeLine you want to select AFA as your ministry of choice. 
