American Family Foundation
The American Family Foundation (AFA) is one of the most highly-visible and controversial groups involved in the effort to uphold traditional family values. It was founded as a conservative, Christian non-profit organization in 1977 by Rev. Donald Wildmon as the National Federation for Decency. It is based in Tupelo, Mississippi.
The AFA regularly publishes articles which promote traditional nuclear families and the main tenets of Christianity. The group is also a staunch supporter of Christian missionaries and strongly opposes abortion, homosexuality and pornography. In addition, the AFA promotes "clean entertainment" as well as the values of being thrifty with finances and against excessive debt.
The AFA is well known for its ability to organize its members in boycotts and letter-writing campaigns aimed at promoting socially conservative values. To date, the organization has launched boycotts of against Abercrombie & Fitch (on the grounds that is uses "softcore pornography in company catalogs"), Movie Gallery (which it refers to as a "distributor of pornographic videos"), Kmart (for its role in the "Sale of adult-rated music CDs") and Nike (for "promoting a back door move to legalize homosexual marriage")
The AFA also has a rich track record of promoting boycotts against television shows, movies, and businesses that have promoted "indecency". Among the targets of such boycotts are prominent brands and companies such as Crest, Volkswagen, Tide, Clorox, Pampers, MTV, Burger King, the Carl's Jr., Kraft Foods, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Old Navy, NutriSystem, and American Airlines.
Even cartoons have not been spared by the AFA. In 2004, for instance, the AFA went after the movie Shark Tale, because the group believed the movie was designed to brainwash children into accepting gay rights. In 2005, it attacked the company American Girl, a distributor of dolls and accessories, because of a charity that the company supported, as well as Target for its lack of the word "Christmas" in its advertising.
The AFA has certainly received its share of critics, mostly liberal organizations and groups like the American Civil Liberties Union. On the other hand, some so-called conservative Constitutionalists have also opposed the AFA for supporting government regulation that is viewed as unconstitutional.
Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including Family, Relationship, and Women.
