Donald Wildmon
The American Family Association has announced today that the organization’s founder and longtime leader, Donald Wildmon, has resigned after more than 30 years as chairman of what has long been one of the leading anti-gay organizations in the country.
According to a press release, Wildmon has resigned due to ongoing health concerns caused after he was bitten last summer by a mosquito carrying the St. Louis encephalitis virus. Wildmon said that he will continue to work with AFA, and that his son, Tim, who has been with the organization for 24 years, is expected to succeed him as chair.
According to the press release: “The retired United Methodist minister [Donald Wildmon] began AFA in 1977 in his dining room with a typewriter and a used offset press. Today the ministry operates on a $20 million annual budget with 175 employees. The ministry owns and operates 180 radio stations, a monthly magazine with a circulation of 170,000 and an internet presence of 2.5 million supporters.”
Here are just a few examples of how Wildmon has used his budget and his influence to try and stall LGBT rights:
• Wildmon is first national religious leader to call on GOP officeholders to purge their staffs of LGBT people after the Congressman Mark Foley scandal in 2006.
• Wildmon calls on his supporters to take action against McDonald’s after the fast food chain joins the National GLBT Chamber of Commerce in 2008.
•Wildmon and his AFA troops worked to pass Proposition 8 in California in 2008.
• Wildmon called for a boycott of PepsiCo because the company supported gay rights.
The list goes on and on. Just do an Internet search for “Wildmon” and “gay” and see what pops up. I did, and got hundreds of results.
So, is Donald Wildmon’s resignation from AFA cause for celebration in the LGBT community? Probably not. I am sure his son will follow in the father’s footsteps. But I guess we can always hope that Tim Wildmon isn’t as charismatic (or whatever) as his father, and AFA’s influence and network of followers might diminish. It’s a slim chance, probably, but even slim hope is better than none.
Interesting timing! James Dobson just left Focus on the Family. I wonder what is up? I smell a scandal coming and I wonder if it involves a restroom stall?
Although my prayers are for Rev Wildmon’s recovery, his leaving his post may, in time, be seen as a blessing. The goofy and irrational boycotts, along with the verifiably false claims he has made over the years may just now deminish. Hopefully his son, assuming he takes command, will approach the truer meaning of Christ.
Health concerns? Has he been hanging out with the Padres? Altar boys are quite tempting to guys of his physical profile.
God’s punishment has finally come to this evil man.
He will be burning in Hell soon-justice is served
Praise God and His guidance for our country toward equality for all
I feel sorry for the mosquito dining on his blood.
Do you think it was a gay mosquito?
Mike,
A gay mosquito would have better taste.
We’ll as it will surely unfolds, this act will surely be caused by something not so nice about his job.
Just hope that the rumors were not true and that all is just an honest and true decision he took
THIS MAN AND HIS ORGANIZATION HAS TAKEN AMERICA BACK TO THE SALEM WITCH BURNING DAYS…ACTUALLY, THIS IS THE CHRISTIAN WAY TO COMMIT MURDER!!! MURDER A PERSONS REPUTATION, MURDER THEIR JOB OPPORTUNITIES, MURDER THEM BY PROMOTING THE NUTS THAT COMMIT HATE-CRIMES!!! ST. LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS, YEAH RIGHT!!!
JESUS LOVED EVERYONE, GOD LOVES EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING…THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN US ALL….NOT WHO THIS MAN DEEMS APPROPRIATE!!!
GOD BLESS AMERICA…BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE WHO NEED HIS HELP TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE ALL HUMAN, WE ARE ALL CHILDREN OF GOD!!!
Matthew 5:3-12 – The Beatitudes
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO???? NOT WHAT THIS MAN AND HIS GROUP HAVE DONE!!! BLESS THEM LORD, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO!!!