Traditional Values Coalition

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The '''Traditional Values Coalition (TVC)''' was yet another [[Christian]] [[conservative]] group in the [[United States]] classified by the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]] as a hate group. TVC was founded in 1980 by Presbyterian minister Louis Sheldon and was prominent for a while in pushing the far-right's anti-LGBT agenda.<ref name=rise-and-fall>Brendan Joel Kelley, [https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/03/30/rise-and-fall-traditional-values-coalition The rise and fall of the Traditional Values Coalition]. Southern Poverty Law Center, 30 March 2018.</ref> The organization was called a "sham ministry" and engaged in all kinds of ethically dubious activity, claiming that they were a coalition of churches while acting as political lobbyists for various far right wing causes.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110530094258/http://www.russbaker.com/archives/TOMPAINE_com%20-%20Sticking%20With%20Tradition.htm Sticking With Tradition]. russbaker.com, 25 November 2003.</ref>

According to their "Issues" page they had three overriding goals: defeating the [[Employment Non-Discrimination Act]], which they believe will force [[transgender]] teachers on schoolchildren,<ref>[https://archive.ph/a3oZ3 ENDA Hurts Kids]. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.</ref> preventing military chaplains from performing [[same-sex marriage|same-sex ceremonies]],<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120724193358/http://www.traditionalvalues.org/content/Issues/34609/military_chaplains_under_threat Military Chaplains Under Threat]. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2012.</ref> and becoming the most popular girl in school. They claimed that the US government funds [[homosexual]] [[pornography]],<ref>[https://archive.ph/yBpn1 SEXPULSE:$5 Million Government Funded Gay Porn]. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.</ref> and ranted about [[Creeping Sharia]].<ref>[https://archive.ph/YeJNn Islam vs Constitution]. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.</ref>

Disgraced lobbyist [[Jack Abramoff]] used Louis Sheldon and TVC to target conservative congressmen on issues affecting his clients. Investigations into Abramoff's criminal activities revealed a money trail from Abramoff to Sheldon and the TVC.<ref name=rise-and-fall /><ref>[https://archive.ph/SApRc How a Lobbyist Stacked the Deck]. The Washington Post, 2005.</ref>

The TVC website defined "[[traditional values]]" as being:
*Opposition to [[LGBT rights]] in general and same-sex marriage in particular
*[[Pro-life|Right to Life]]
*[[Abstinence-only sex education]]
*Opposition to pornography and "addicting behaviors"
*Discrimination
*[[The United States as a Christian nation]]
*[[Patriotism]] and extreme [[nationalism]]<ref>[https://archive.ph/lMKbl Traditional valued defined]. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.</ref>

The TVC website contained a blog run by Andrea Lafferty, daughter of the group's founder, which contained such malarial as claiming that watching movies at AMC means you're supporting [[communism]],<ref>[https://archive.ph/zD4oI When You Watch Movies at AMC Theaters, You're Sponsoring COMMUNISM!]. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.</ref> calling for a nationwide boycott of Groupon for offering discounts to [[porn]] sites,<ref>[https://archive.ph/Knpz0 Groupon Porn Discount?] Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.</ref> and being disgusted over the presence of a [[Transgender|trans]] woman in the Miss Universe contest.<ref>[https://archive.ph/mPpb2 Donald Trump Has Unique Tastes For His Beauty Pageants]. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.</ref>

The TVC was one of the main supporters of [[Creation Ministries International]]'s [[Question Evolution!]] campaign:

{{quotebox|width=70%|The creation vs. evolution issue is a core issue because the teaching of evolution (everything made itself without God) leads students to reject biblical authority/morality and thus robs them of true meaning and purpose for their lives<ref>Michael Gryboski, [http://www.christianpost.com/news/on-darwins-birthday-some-celebrate-question-evolution-day-69489/ On Darwin's Birthday, Some Celebrate 'Question Evolution Day']. Christian Post, 14 February 2012.</ref>}}

Andrea Lafferty assumed leadership of TVC in 2011 after several years of acting as the group's figurehead. After filing a lawsuit in 2015 seeking to overturn protections for gay and transgender students, the organization fizzled out and completely disappeared in 2018.<ref name=rise-and-fall /> Good riddance!

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

[[Category:Creationist organizations]]
[[Category:Hate groups]]
[[Category:Homophobia]]
[[Category:Transphobia]]
[[Category:Islamophobia]]
[[Category:Purity culture]]
[[Category:Right-wing activists]]

Categories: Creationist organizations, Hate groups, Homophobia, Transphobia, Islamophobia, Purity culture, Right-wing activists