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Choose from the complete list of GLAAD Accountability Profiles:
Brian Brown
President of the International Organization for the Family (IOF)
Former president of National Organization for Marriage (NOM)
—Speaks out in support of Georgia ultra-nationalist Levan Vasadze, who has encouraged anti-LGBTIQ activism and announced his entry into politics in May 2021. During a live press conference to support the launch of Vasadze’s ‘Unity, Identity, Hope Movement,’ Brown expressed his support for his “dear friend” and warned Georgia against LGBTIQ activism which he claims will “undermine your freedom,” “undermine your church” and “will undermine your country.” The event took place in advance of Tbilisi’s Pride March For Dignity, which was disrupted by violence on July 5. At least 20 journalists were hurt covering the march. The march’s organizers were forced to change location at least four times out of concern for their safety, each time pursued by a violent mob.
—In email to supporters of NOM, Brown said: “For the first time, there is a real possibility that horrific, anti-constitutional decisions of the past will be reversed. Marriage could be restored to our national laws.”
—Launched a new global anti-LGBTQ organization called the International Organization for the Family. The IOF’s first project was gathering anti-LGBTQ and anti-abortion crusaders to sign the “Cape Town Declaration,” a manifesto that decries marriage equality. The organization is effectively a revival of the conservative World Congress of Families.
—Insisted that LGBTQ rights are “invented concepts that not only are not rights, they also are not right.”
—Sponsored an anti-transgender tour bus that traveled throughout North America and the world.
—Claimed credit for Trump administration rolling back transgender rights in the military.
—Accused President Obama of “normalizing pedophilia”: “Urged on by wealthy elites, western powers—especially Barack Obama—demand that nations change their laws and policies in profoundly unwise and dangerous ways to embrace the agenda of the secular left—abortion on demand, an abandonment of marriage, acceptance of polygamy, normalizing pedophilia, transgenderism, stripping children of their inherent right to a mother and a father, etc.”
—Testified in favor of a Russian law banning same-sex adoptions, saying that “every child should have the right to have normal parents: a father and a mother.”
—Says homosexuality is “not logical” and “degrading to the human soul“: “Well guess what—homosexuality IS a sin in the bible, and virtually every other sacred text out there. Engaging in homosexual sex IS considered by God to be sinful according to the teachings of most religions. And sin is NOT logical. Sin is deceitful, harmful and degrading to the human soul.”
—Recently attempted, via his national newsletter, to raise a link between marriage equality and pedophilia: “Will pedophiles become ‘minor-attracted persons’ in our culture? Will courts which endorse orientation as a protected class decide down the road that therefore laws which discriminate against ‘minor-attracted persons’ must be narrowly tailored to a compelling government interest?”
—Marched against openly gay Bishop V. Gene Robinson, with the Hartford Courant quoting him as saying that the acceptance of homosexuality in the church marked the destruction of the American family and marriage.
—When Rhode Island passed marriage equality, equated same-sex-headed families with those that have been affected by divorce or even death.
—Has advocated for gay people to change their orientation. Said of a faith-based study on self-identified so-called “ex-gays”: “Even those who disagree with us about gay marriage (or Christian sexual ethics) should feel good about this this [sic] scientific verification of the possibility of free will triumphing over desire. We are all more than our instincts, sexual or otherwise.”
—Encouraged parents to attend a Love Won Out so-called “ex-gay” conference, calling it a way to “prevent your child from embracing this destructive way of life.“
—Claims a law designed to protect transgender students in California’s public schools is “damaging,” “madness,” and “a weapon”: “AB1266, the co-ed bathroom law, is a horrible attempt by activists to strip society of all gender roles and uses children as a weapon in their culture war. The National Organization for Marriage fully supports the efforts of the Privacy for All Students coalition to repeal this dangerous law. Opening our most vulnerable areas at school including showers, bathrooms and changing rooms to members of the opposite sex is politically-correct madness that risks the privacy and security of our children and grandchildren…. They are forcing our school children to be exposed in showers and bathrooms to members of the opposite sex who claim a ‘gender identity’ with that sex. This new law doesn’t prevent bullying—it is bullying. It is not about protecting kids; it damages kids.”
—Said: “Same-sex unions are not marriages. Political regimes based on lies about human nature cannot last. Same-sex marriage takes a sacred institution, with deep roots in human nature, and tries to turn it into the plaything of politicians, a creature of the state, a bundle of rights to be tossed about between adults. Something so feebly rooted, so fragilely constructed and imposed cannot last.”
—Said: “Even if the state decides that it’s going to attempt to redefine marriage…two men can never be married, so the fact that there’s a piece of paper from the state saying that, doesn’t mean they actually are married.” (4:24-4:40)
—Compared “persecution” he faces today to that faced by Jesus Christ: “What did they do to Christ? We’re going to suffer a little bit.” (1:20-1:24)
—Said of separation between civil marriage and religious ceremony: “I don’t accept this bifurcation between civil and religious marriage.” (3:17-3:21)
The GLAAD Accountability Project catalogs anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and discriminatory actions of politicians, commentators, organization heads, religious leaders, and legal figures, who have used their platforms, influence and power to spread misinformation and harm LGBTQ people.
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