Date: Thu, 28 Aug 97 14:35:27 EDT From: "communications" Subject: Focus on Family's Dobson Shows True Extremist Agenda ________________________________________________________ NEWS from the Human Rights Campaign 1101 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 email: hrc@hrc.org WWW: http://www.hrc.org ________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, Aug. 28, 1997 IN JOINING DISNEY BOYCOTT, FOCUS ON FAMILY'S DOBSON SHOWS TRUE EXTREMIST AGENDA Dobson Should Heed Words of Ex-Colleague and Quit Political Activism, HRC Asserts WASHINGTON -- In joining the ill-conceived boycott of the Walt Disney Co., James Dobson, head of the religious extremist group Focus on the Family, has again revealed his true anti-gay political agenda, according to the Human Rights Campaign. "There is nothing Christian' about vilifying Disney for such accurate media portrayals as Ellen Morgan, lead character of the Ellen TV show," said Elizabeth Birch, HRC's executive director. "And it is certainly far from charitable to demonize an employer for treating its lesbian and gay workers fairly. "I would urge James Dobson to heed the words of his former Focus on the Family colleague, Gil Alexander-Moegerle, who recently issued a public apology to the many groups Dobson's hateful rhetoric has injured -- from women and African Americans to Jews and gays. Alexander- Moegerle also called on Dobson to quit his political activism, which is excellent advice." Dobson used his national radio network Wednesday to urge his millions of contributors to join the boycott of the Walt Disney Co. That embargo was launched in June by the Southern Baptist Convention as a tool to sanction Disney for refusing to discriminate against gay Americans. Dobson conceded Wednesday that the boycott won't work, noting "we may not even damage them financially." "Dobson and his ilk really don't care whether this gambit succeeds," Birch said. "They are just cynically manipulating the media into covering their intolerant views." In June, the Human Rights Campaign kicked off a nationwide effort encouraging HRC members and other fair-minded Americans to counter anti-gay Disney boycott by purchasing Disney gift certificates and donating them to children in hospitals throughout the country. "Our goal continues to be to turn this negative action into something positive by countering the Disney boycott with the spirit of family, caring, compassion and community," Birch said. Birch again cited the eloquent apology of Alexander-Moegerle, who helped to found Focus on the Family in 1977 in Colorado Springs, Colo. "Dobson's former colleague now recognizes and is taking responsibility for what he called the false, irresponsible and inflammatory rhetoric' of James Dobson's anti-gay radio and print materials," Birch noted. "We can only hope that Dobson himself comes to the same realization." The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. - 30 -