Issues@Hand
AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs
March 2005 – The We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) has threatened a lawsuit in federal court against AFA because of an article that appeared in the January AFA Journal, which exposed the pro-homosexual content on WAFF’s Web site.
The letter from WAFF attorneys charged that the statements of fact within the AFA Journal article were false, malicious and “clearly uttered with a reckless disregard for the truth.” WAFF demanded that AFA recant its statements, remove the article from its own Web site, and in its place post an apology. AFA refused.
The AFA Journal article focused on a video project involving the 1970s hit song, “We Are Family,” co-written by WAFF founder Nile Rodgers. The remix of the song, which was produced in November 2004 as a music video using over 100 characters from children’s television, is scheduled to be distributed via DVD format to over 61,000 elementary schools. A teacher’s guide will accompany the DVD to encourage discussions after children view the music video We Are Family.
“The video itself is fine,” said AFA chairman Don Wildmon. “But a teacher’s guide that promotes the homosexual agenda is not acceptable. All we’ve ever said is that parents should know how their school will use the video to teach values.”
Under the guise of promoting tolerance for other categories such as race, gender, age, disabilities, etc., the WAFF Web site openly promoted homosexuality as a normative lifestyle. There was a “Tolerance Pledge” that encouraged signees to pledge respect for homosexuals, and work against “ignorance, insensitivity and bigotry.” The site included a teacher’s guide that aggressively normalized same-gender attraction and same-sex marriage. There was also a recommended reading list for children and adults that included such illustrated children’s books as the lesbian-themed, Heather Has Two Mommies, which discusses artificial insemination, and Daddy’s Roommate, with an illustration of two men in bed together. As well, the WAFF Web site had a list of “allies” that virtually ran the gamut of homosexual advocacy groups: Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation; Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network; Human Rights Campaign; National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; and Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians & Gays.
Interestingly, subsequent to the publication of the AFA Journal article, the controversial materials on the WAFF Web site were removed from public viewing. The only exception was the tolerance pledge, which was itself altered from its original format.
“We stand by the article as written, and frankly are not surprised by the threat of a lawsuit from the We Are Family Foundation,” said Wildmon.
AFA suggests parents contact schools
The music video We Are Family will be sent to elementary schools in the U.S. March 11, according to the We Are Family Foundation Web site. Accompanying the video will be a teacher’s guide. Because of the other materials found on the WAFF Web site, AFA is concerned that discussions about homosexuality may be initiated with students.
“A good school system will always work with parents, not against them,” said Wildmon. “We are encouraging parents to simply find out what, if anything, will be going on in their schools in connection with the We Are Family video.”
AFA is recommending that parents take the following simple steps – always ensuring that communications with school officials be conducted in a Christian manner:
• Contact your school’s principal and your child’s teacher. Ask them if they plan to show the We Are Family DVD at school.
• Ask if any discussions with students will be initiated after the DVD is viewed.
• If so, ask if the WAFF teacher’s guide will be used in facilitating that discussion, and if any materials from the WAFF Web site will be included. Ask for the opportunity to review the teacher’s guide.
• Ask very specifically if the subject of homosexuality will be brought up by teachers or discussed if brought up by a student.
• Act accordingly. If the school assures you that homosexuality will not be discussed, thank them politely. If you are informed that homosexuality will be discussed, you may want to make plans to keep your child home that day. Or you may even ask for permission to sit in on the discussion.
Should you have problems with your school, or if you would simply like to tell us about your experience in dealing with this issue, call AFA director of special projects Randy Sharp at 662-844-5036, Ext. 240, or E-mail him at rsharp@afa.net. 
NBC’s Today Show covered the controversy over the We Are Family Foundation in a one-sided segment featuring host Matt Lauer and guest Nile Rodgers. For more on the media bias angle on this story, read “Setting the record straight” by AFA’s Ed Vitagliano here.
