Alliance Defending Freedom

{{bronze}}[[File:Alliance Defending Freedom.jpg|thumb|right|165px|ADF's logo]]
{{Christianity}}
{{cquote|…[the ADF's] ultimate goal is to see the law and [[The United States as a Christian nation|U.S. government enshrined with conservative Christian principles]].|||Profiles of the ADF at [[Right Wing Watch]],<ref name=rww>[http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/alliance-defense-fund Alliance Defense Fund] and [https://www.peoplefor.org/search?keys=alliance+defending+freedom&section=1000021 Alliance Defending Freedom], Right Wing Watch.</ref> [[SourceWatch]],<ref>[http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alliance_Defense_Fund Alliance Defense Fund] and [https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alliance_Defending_Freedom Alliance Defending Freedom], SourceWatch.</ref> and the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]]<ref name=splc>[https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/alliance-defending-freedom Alliance Defending Freedom] at the Southern Poverty Law Center.</ref>}}
'''Alliance Defending Freedom''' (formerly known as the '''Alliance Defense Fund''' until 2012) is a [[Religious right|right wing religious]] legal group with a revenue of $104 million in 2022.<ref>(January 22, 2024). [https://www.hrc.org/news/alliance-defending-freedom-staunch-enemy-of-equality "Alliance Defending Freedom: Staunch Enemy of Equality"]. ''Human Rights Campaign''.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230601123734/https://adflegal.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/2021%20ADF%20990%20Public%20Copy%20Final.pdf "IRS Form 990: Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax"]. ''ADF Legal'', via the Wayback Machine.</ref> On the basis of its extremist [[evangelical]] viewpoints towards [[gay]] and [[transgender]] people, it is designated a hate group by the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]].<ref name=splc />

==Aims==
{{cquote|Alliance Defending Freedom seeks to recover the robust Christendomic theology of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th centuries. This is catholic, universal orthodoxy and it is desperately crucial for cultural renewal. Christians must strive to build glorious cultural cathedrals, rather than shanty tin sheds.|||{{wpl|Blackstone Legal Fellowship||,}} which is run by the ADF<ref name=splc/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140703192241/http://www.blackstonelegalfellowship.org/Resources/ResourceOverview Core Curriculum] ''Blackstone Legal Fellowship'' (archived from July 3, 2014).</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Nelson |first=Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aI2SDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT139 |title=Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right |date=2019-10-29 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1-63557-320-6 |pages=139 |language=en}}</ref>}}

Their quote appeared from 2010-2014, and disappeared by 2015,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240000000000*/http://www.blackstonelegalfellowship.org/Resources/ResourceOverview  Core Curriculum] ''Blackstone Legal Fellowship'' (Internet Archive).</ref> apparently because it started attracting negative attention in 2014.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140731233758/http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2014/05/01/3429448/alliance-defending-freedom/ The 800-Pound Gorilla Of The Christian Right] by Josh Israel (May 1, 2014) ''ThinkProgress'' (archived from July 31, 2014).</ref> The quote is both [[ironic]] and terrifying. It is ironic because ADF was founded by six conservative Christian men, five evangelic [[Protestants]] and one [[Catholic]]. It is ironic because their [[golden age]] is the 3<sup>rd</sup> through 5<sup>th</sup> centuries CE, when the [[pope]] was the head of the Church, and the only schisms were broadly within the Church. Protestantism, and the rejection of the primacy of the pope, did not come along until more than a millenium later with [[Martin Luther]] in the 16<sup>th</sup> century. It is terrifying because that is the [[good old days]] that they want to return everyone to.

The six founders are:
#Bill Bright, founder of [[Campus Crusade for Christ]]
#{{wpl|Larry Burkett}}
#James Dobson, founder of [[Focus on the Family]]
#{{wpl|D. James Kennedy}}
#{{wpl|Mark Siljander}}
#{{wpl|Alan Sears||,}} the only Catholic
Despite the lone Catholic, ADF focuses almost exclusively on perceived offenses to evangelical Protestants, and has even supported an adoption agency the time when its policy was not to let Catholics adopt.<ref>[http://www.5tjt.com/i-was-barred-from-becoming-a-foster-parent-because-i-am-jewish/ I Was Barred From Becoming a Foster Parent Because I Am Jewish] by Lydia Currie (February 7, 2019) ''5 Towns Jewish Times''.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230701044614/https://adfmedia.org/press-release/adf-commends-hhss-move-ensure-sc-faith-based-foster-care-providers-free-serve-kids ADF commends HHS's move to ensure SC faith-based foster care providers free to serve kids] by Kellie Fiedorek (Jan 24, 2019) ''Alliance Defedning Freedom'' (archived from July 1, 2023).</ref>

The ADF is dedicated to: 
*Opposing [[abortion]]
**Banning [[mifepristone]]<ref>David D. Kirkpatrick (October 2, 2023). [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/10/09/alliance-defending-freedoms-legal-crusade "The Next Targets for the Group That Overturned Roe"]. ''The New Yorker''.</ref><ref> Selena Simmons-Duffin and Diane Webber (August 16, 2023). [https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/08/16/1194280392/ruling-deals-blow-to-access-to-abortion-pill-mifepristone-but-nothing-changes-ye "Ruling deals blow to access to abortion pill mifepristone — but nothing changes yet"]. ''Health Shots'' (NPR).</ref>
*Protecting the [[religious freedom]] of Christians; {{IdEst}}:
**The freedom of [[fundamentalist]] [[Christians]] to violate the [[Establishment Clause]]
**The freedom to [[discrimination|discriminate]] against those who disagree with them
*Combating threats to their narrow-minded travesty of [[family values]]; {{IdEst}}:
**[[Homosexuality]] — The ADF supports the [[Homophobia|criminalization of gay people having sex]], opposes [[same-sex marriage]] and [[civil unions]], and believes that a "[[homosexual agenda]]" will undermine [[Christianity]].<ref>[https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/07/24/alliance-defending-freedom-through-years Alliance Defending Freedom Through The Years] ''Southern Poverty Law Center''.</ref> They have set up a "[[Badger's Law|Day of Truth]]" in an attempt to counter the [[Day of Silence]].<ref>[http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7477978#.XKFiwJhKhPb Group makes noise over Day of Silence] ''NBC News''. 4/12/2005.</ref> They also support a Christian who wants to hand out [[Bible]]s at gay pride events.<ref>Michael Allen, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120725054735/http://www.opposingviews.com/i/religion/christianity/christian-brian-johnson-sues-hand-out-bibles-gay-pride-rally Christian Brian Johnson Sues to Hand Out Bibles at Gay Pride Rally]. opposingviews.com, 3 April 2012.</ref>{{efn|If successful, this could set a precedent allowing secularists to hand out material by authors like [[Richard Dawkins]] at Christian events. Can these Christians think things through?<ref>See also, [https://web.archive.org/web/20150415063339/http://www.rationalskepticism.org/news-politics/man-sues-after-being-restricted-from-passing-out-bibles-t30627-20.html Man sues after being restricted from passing out bibles]. rationalskepticism.org, 5 April 2012.</ref> (The obvious answer is "no".{{fact|joke}})}}
**[[Transgender]] people — The ADF is responsible for the drafting of numerous [[Transphobia|anti-trans]] [[Transphobia and public restrooms|bathroom bills]],<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/law-firm-linked-anti-transgender-bathroom-bills-across-country-n741106 This Law Firm Is Linked to Anti-Transgender Bathroom Bills Across the Country] ''NBC News''. April 8, 2017.</ref> and defended a Christian charity's decision to reject a homeless trans woman from staying in their shelter.<ref>[https://www.huffpost.com/entry/alliance-defending-freedom-hope-center-transgender-women_n_5c3ca570e4b0922a21d703ce Christian Shelter Defends Choice To Reject Homeless Transgender Woman] ''Huffington Post''. 01/14/19.</ref> The ADF is additionally responsible for ghostwriting many sports bans on transgender women and other laws depriving transgender people of their rights.<ref>Mark Joseph Stern, [https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/04/transgender-rights-bathrooms-sports-alliance-defending-freedom.html It Wasn’t About Bathrooms, and It’s Not About Women’s Sports]. Slate, 7 April 2021.</ref> They have also (unsuccessfully) defended laws that required the forced sterilisation of trans people.<ref>Alex Amend, [https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2017/07/27/anti-lgbt-hate-group-alliance-defending-freedom-defended-state-enforced-sterilization Anti-LGBT Hate Group Alliance Defending Freedom Defended State-Enforced Sterilization for Transgender Europeans]. Southern Poverty Law Center, 27 July 2017.</ref> They even gave £15,000 to [[TERF]]/[[astroturf]] organisation the [[Women's Liberation Front]] to fund anti-trans campaigning.<ref>[https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2017/04/fake-radical-feminist-group-paid-political-front-anti-lgbt-organization/ Fake ‘radical feminist’ group a paid political front for anti-LGBT organization], LGBTQ Nation, April 12, 2017</ref>
**[[Pornography]]
**[[Sex education]]
**The [[Internet]]
*Generally giving Christians, especially conservative Christians, power to deny [[freedom]] to others
*Pushing for [[classroom prayer]] (often times Christian prayer)
*Fighting the [[War on Christmas]]

==Analysis==
[[File:Pulpit Freedom Sunday 2011.jpg|thumb|right|200|Pulpit Freedom Sunday in 2011]]
The group was conceived as a [[conservative]] counter to the [[ACLU]]. They have, on occasion, done some good — if self-serving — work for Christian groups that are unfairly prevented from using school property by officials who don't understand the [[Establishment Clause]]. But, then again, so has the ACLU.<ref>[http://www.aclufightsforchristians.com/ The ACLU fights for Christians]. 20 March 2015.</ref>

On the other hand, they have helped defend the right of the [[Boy Scouts of America]] to discriminate against gays. The very nature of their mission runs counter to both the spirit and letter of the [[Constitution]] of the [[United States]]. 

Starting in 2008, they have cajoled right-wing [[pastor]]s into observing [[Pulpit Freedom Sunday]], an intentional violation of the tax-exempt status of those pastors' churches.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130703130843/http://metroland.net/2012/02/01/no-theocracy-thanks/ No Theocracy, Thanks]. metroland.net, 1 February 2012.</ref>

Incidentally, [[Bill O'Reilly]] likes them.<ref>Anna Dimond and Joe Brown, [https://www.mediamatters.org/bill-oreilly/what-alliance-defense-fund-and-why-does-bill-oreilly-advocate-donating-it What is the Alliance Defense Fund, and why does Bill O'Reilly advocate donating to it?] Media Matters, 14 October 2005.</ref>

==2020 election activity==
{{main|2020 U.S. presidential election}}
Michael Farris, CEO of ADF, wrote and circulated a draft lawsuit that was used largely as the basis for [[Texas]] Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit against the states of [[Pennsylvania]], [[Georgia]], [[Michigan]], and [[Wisconsin]], claiming that the states unconstitutionally expanded use of absentee ballots during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211007200733/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/07/us/politics/religious-conservative-michael-farris-lawsuit-2020-election.html Christian Conservative Had Secretive Role in Bid to Block Election Result: Drafts of a lawsuit filed with Supreme Court by Texas’ attorney general in December had been circulated by the leader of an anti-abortion group.] by Eric Lipton (Oct. 7, 2021, 4:03 p.m. ET) ''The New York Times''.</ref> The lawsuit was dismissed as moot because Texas (whom Paxton represented as AG) lacked standing regarding another state's election laws.<ref>{{wpa|Texas v. Pennsylvania|''Texas v. Pennsylvania''}}</ref>

==Funding==
Major donors include James Leininger, [[Blackwater|Erik Prince]], Bill and Bradley Foundation, Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation, Berniece Grewcock Foundation, and the Bolthouse Foundation, which insists that ''"man was created by a direct act of God in His image, [[Creationism|not from previously existing creatures]]"''.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/01/christianity-rights-colin-atkinson Christian Legal Centre fights more than 50 religious discrimination cases]</ref><ref name=rww /> According to ''The Guardian'', "the ADF saw a huge increase in its funding between 2020 and 2021. The group funneled some of that money into a slew of smaller anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-abortion groups across the US."<ref>Ava Sasani (November 26, 2023). [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/26/tennessee-homosexuality-lgbtq-book-bans-florida "'Archaic': the Tennessee town that made homosexuality illegal"]. ''The Guardian''.</ref>

==International impact==
The [[Christian Legal Centre]] is a [[UK|British]] organization suspected of receiving funding from the ADF.  The CLC and ADF jointly set up the UK based Wilberforce Academy, which tries to train Christians as public leaders. Overall, the Christian Legal Centre is less successful than the ADF claims it to be. The Christian Legal Centre has lost a high proportion of the cases taken on,<ref>For examples, take a look at Wikipedia's page on the {{wpl|Christian Legal Centre#Notable cases|Christian Legal Centre|.}}</ref> while the ADF claims a high success rate.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120715082153/http://www.alliancedefendingfreedom.org/about The Work of Alliance Defending Freedom] where in 2015, they claim "80% of all cases litigated have been won" and "38 U.S. Supreme Court victories".</ref>

==Future==
Polling evidence suggests that the percentage of Christians in the United States falls by about 1% yearly. As the proportion of Christians continues to decline, the culture in the United States is likely to more closely resemble that of Britain, making it harder for the ADF to win cases.

==Moment of supreme irony==
[[File:Lisa Biron.jpeg|thumb|right|165px|Biron's mugshot]]
In April 2013, ADF attorney Lisa A. Biron<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101213195800/https://www.lawyersnh.com/biron.htm Lisa A. Biron, Esquire] ''The Law Offices of Welts, White & Fontaine, P.C.'' (archived from December 13, 2010).</ref> {{lived|1969}} was convicted of six counts of [[Child sexual abuse|sexual exploitation of children]], and one count of possession of child [[pornography]] when she filmed her own 14-year-old daughter having sex with two men on multiple occasions, and the ADF moved swiftly to whitewash their connection to Biron by removing mention of her on the ADF web site and Facebook page.<ref>[http://www.salon.com/2013/01/11/anti_gay_activist_guilty_of_child_pornography_after_videotaping_daughter/ Anti-gay activist lawyer guilty of child pornography after videotaping daughter] by Evelyn Schlatter (January 11, 2013 9:25PM EST) ''Salon''.</ref> Biron got 40 years in prison.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150706024506/http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/cops/courts/fires/6498450-95/former-manchester-lawyer-sentenced-to-40-years-for-producing-child-pornography Former Manchester lawyer sentenced to 40 years for producing child pornography] by Jeremy Blackman (May 24, 2013) ''Concord Monitor'' (archived from July 6, 2015).</ref>

==See also==
*[[American College of Pediatricians]] — ADF has collaborated with them<ref>(September 29, 2023). [https://glaad.org/gap/alliance-defending-freedom-adf/ "Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF)"]. ''GLAAD''.</ref><ref>R.G. Cravens (June 5, 2023). [https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2023/06/05/documents-reveal-adf-requested-anti-trans-research-american-college-pediatricians "Documents Reveal ADF Requested Anti-Trans Research From American College of Pediatricians"]. ''[[Southern Poverty Law Center]]''.</ref>
*[[Mike Johnson]] — the speaker of the [[House of Representatives]] (as of late 2023, anyway) started his legal career at ADF

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

[[Category:Anti-LGBT bigots]]
[[Category:Christian fundamentalism]]
[[Category:Fundamentalist Christian organizations]]
[[Category:Hate groups]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Lawyers]]
[[Category:Misnomers]]
[[Category:Organizations]]
[[Category:Political action groups]]
[[Category:Right-wing activists]]
[[Category:Sexism]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]

Categories: Anti-LGBT bigots, Christian fundamentalism, Fundamentalist Christian organizations, Hate groups, Homophobia, Lawyers, Misnomers, Organizations, Political action groups, Right-wing activists, Sexism, Transphobia