Focus on the Family Prez: "We've Probably Lost" on Gay Marriage

[EFerrari]

Focus on the Family Prez: "We've Probably Lost" on Gay Marriage

— By Tim Murphy (Mojo)
| Mon May. 23, 2011 7:08 AM PDT

Last week, a Gallup poll showed that a majority of Americans support gay marriage. It was the third such survey this spring, and if you add in the number of Americans who support civil unions, public support for same-sex relationships has more or less become the dominant position. Anti-gay marriage activists aren't going down quietly; in Minnesota, a bill to put a gay marriage referendum on the 2012 ballot just passed the House, and conservatives in Iowa (with an assist from Newt Gingrich) successfully ousted three state supreme court judges who had ruled the state's gay marriage ban unconstitutional. But it's a far cry from the days of, oh, 2004, when a flurry of anti-gay marriage amendments at the state level helped propel President Bush to a second term.

So how far has the pendulum swung? Even Jim Daly, president of the right-wing group Focus on the Family, seems to be waving the white flag. Here's what he told the evangelical World magazine in their June issue:

We're winning the younger generation on abortion, at least in theory. What about same-sex marriage? We're losing on that one, especially among the 20- and 30-somethings: 65 to 70 percent of them favor same-sex marriage. I don't know if that's going to change with a little more age—demographers would say probably not. We've probably lost that. I don't want to be extremist here, but I think we need to start calculating where we are in the culture.

Daly has taken a far more conciliatory approach to to traditional hot-button issues than his predecessor at Focus, James Dobson, so perhaps it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise to see him speak so candidly. (For more on the shift to a kinder, gentler, skinny jeans-ier Focus on the Family, check out Stephanie Mencimer's piece on the group's hipster makeover.)

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/05/focus-family-weve-lost-gay-marriage

Just a bit more at link

[Skinner]

1. He's right.

At this point, we're only fighting over the timetable.

[TheWraith]

8. To a certain extent, it's always been that way.

As MLK said, the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends toward justice. There can be setbacks, but the end result is the same. Take civil rights--the end of Reconstruction probably resulted in an extra 50 years of delay and discrimination against black people in this country, but progress never stops. It's why patience is the greatest ally of the reformer. One of my favorite lines by Thomas Paine: A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason.

[Drale]

2. Good always wins out over evil and

we will always get our way even if it takes a long time. Look at Abolition, Womens rights, Civil Rights. If you can get the great beast that is America on your side, there is no stopping an issue.

[Blue Owl]

3. How fucked up is it that

he and the rest of the homophobe brigade view another person's human rights as their personal "victory" or "defeat" -- I mean really, just how fucked up is that?

[EFerrari]

7. It's pretty fucked up.

"Family" doesn't mean what they think it means.

[VWolf]

10. Exactly. And for that matter,

what does HE have to lose, really?

[RKP5637]

4. Excellent!!! n/t

[bluestateguy]

5. The tick tock tick of Father Time is a wonderful thing

I'll let you figure out what I mean by that.

[tekisui]

6. Good to hear, may our political leaders be more emboldened now.

[EFerrari]

15. Or boldened. Or even, ened.

:)

[Zorra]

9. At this point, it does seem that way. But

the situation could drastically change overnight if republicans gain a Senate majority and/or the WH. Human rights in the US could be set back for twenty years or more if republicans take power again.

This is one of many reasons why, IMO, it is so critical that we get out en masse and vote for Democrats in 2012.

Despite all else, some progress does occur when Democrats are (somewhat ostensibly, yes) in control of government.

Under republicans, we have nothing but major rapid regression in every way.

[closeupready]

11. At least we all know how committed your organization is to homophobia.

So, you did accomplish SOMEthing.

[MadBadger]

12. An extremist thinks he sounds like an extremist when he acts more moderate

[InvisibleTouch]

13. At some point you can't stop progress.

These fundie dirtbags need to get their noses out of other people's business.

[Amaril]

14. I've said it before.......

....and I'll say it again -- these asshats need to "focus" on their own damn "family" and leave the rest of us alone.

I'm definitely not in the 20-30 year old demographic, but I will happy dance in the streets when these puritanical, mysogynistic, homophobic busy-bodies lose the last shred of relevancy they ever thought they had.

[Permanut]

16. Ah, yes, Fungus on the Family...

The organization that brought us James Dobson and his interview with Ted Bundy on death row, when he led Bundy into "admitting" that pornography made him do all those horrible things.

[Snoutport]

17. my husband and i would agree!

[Liberal_in_LA]

18. no wave the white flat on abortion also. Let women decide

[Bubba Kush]

19. Why not shut down all FotF activities and disband the incorporation

And finally, turned themselves in for tax evasion along with James F' Dobson.