The True Ugly Face of The Family Foundation

As has been noted in many media articles the true moving force against Tracy Thorne-Begland's judicial nomination was The Family Foundation ("TFF") - the Virginia affiliate of Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council, although the latter group's name has quietly disappeared from the TFF web page since FRC was named a registered anti-gay hate group.  TFF likes to pretend that it's not a religious extremist organization that hold particular animus towards LGBT Virginian's but its actions speak louder than it always disingenuous words.  In Virginia politics one might describe TFF as akin to "The Empire" in the Star Wars movies: utterly ruthless, always out to trample on the freedom of others, seeking to impose its will on all citizens, and quick to malign and destroy those who dare to differ with its extreme right wing dictates.  In short,TFF is a pestilence that constantly pushes to move Virginia back into a 1950's world where white conservative Christians call all the shoots.  A piece in the American Independent looks at the real face of TFF - something every major news outlet in Virginia ought to do - and underscores the organization's toxicity and how it continues to dictate policy to the Republican Party of Virginia.  Virginia will not fully move into the 21st century until the power of TFF is broken.  The fact that the husband of the TFF president is a member of Bob "Governor Ultrasound" McDonnell's cabinet demonstrates the insidious power of TFF.  Here are article highlights:

The Family Foundation of Virginia was founded in 1985 and calls itself “the largest and most influential Virginia-based organization of its kind.”

The foundation, which identifies as nonpartisan, lists among its successes: requiring pre-abortion ultrasounds, adding a traditional marriage amendment to the Virginia constitution, instituting a ‘conscience clause’ to allow discrimination in adoption, and defeating an amendment to protect LGBT employees from workplace discrimination. The group said the 2012 legislative session was “one of the most successful policy sessions we’ve ever seen.”

The foundation also issues a report card for legislators every two years, which it calls “one of the most sought after political documents in Virginia.” The group says it distributed 100,000 report cards during 2009.

While legislators said the group held a great deal of power among the religious right, another faith-based group in Virginia said the Family Foundation misinterprets scripture and represents a fading sect of ultraconservative Christianity.

“It was clear that [the Family Foundation] frightened a great deal of folks in the General Assembly into either voting against Tracy’s nomination, or scared them out of showing up to vote,” said John Humphrey, an attorney and board member for People of Faith for Equality in Virginia.

“They talk about protecting families and protecting marriage and that they are not an organization that wants to discriminate,” Humphrey said, “but their actions opposing Tracy’s nomination clearly show that bigotry is at the root of the stands they are taking.

“They have the patina of a great deal of authority and influence,” Humphrey said, “and they do cow many legislators into following them, but the reality is that they represent a minority of opinion in the state on these issues and their influence is waning.”   [Delegate Jennifer] McClellan said that there was an understanding among Republican legislators, especially those from heavily conservative districts, that failing to follow the Family Foundation’s agenda could lead to political distress. She said votes on trans-vaginal ultrasounds and anti-abortion rights legislation earlier during the session demonstrated that reality.

“I have heard either directly or indirectly from some people who are a little more moderate or who personally don’t believe in some of the bills,” McClellan said. “But between pressure from the Family Foundation and conservative members of the caucus, they feel compelled to vote a certain way because those groups say, ‘If you don’t, you will get a primary challenge from the right and we will take you out.’”

Despite the fact that the Family Foundation’s efforts succeeded in blocking Thorne-Begland’s appointment, Humphrey said it would ultimately hurt the group in the long run.

“Their organizing of the opposition to Tracy’s nomination reveals how much oppression and venom remains embedded in our politics,” Humphrey said. “But, in that sense, I’m thankful for their opposition because it helps to point out and bring to light how deeply unfair and hate-filled their stance is.”

 From watching The Family Foundation's agenda over the years, it is best described as a constant campaign of hate, fear and bigotry.  Virginia will never achieve a better society until TFF ceases to weld power through threats and intimidation and the dissemination of deliberate lies and untruths.