Why are people from all over the country marching 65 miles from the steps of the Denver State Capitol Building to the entrance of Focus on the Family for a vigil and concert?
- Focus on the Family has become one of the world’s primary sources of defamation and dishonest stereotyping of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals, couples, and families. That defamation flows to millions of people daily from his radio broadcast, website, e-mail alerts, video, audio, and print materials – contributing directly to the fear and panic that causes hate crimes, suicides, and many forms of emotional and spiritual suffering. There is not a single positive portrayal of a productive gay or lesbian citizen or a loving same-gender couple or family on Dobson’s radio program or in any of his audio, video, and print materials.
- James Dobson wants to make America a fundamentalist "Christian" nation by imposing his narrow interpretation of the Bible on all Americans, thereby jeopardizing the civil liberties and religious freedom of all people and the integrity of our U.S. Constitution. He has unfettered political influence and direct access to the White House and federal government, as well as every state legislature through dozens of satellite organizations. To dramatize this dangerous collapse of the separation between church and state, Soulforce will march from a legislative symbol (the Denver State Capitol building) to the primary source of antigay misinformation (Focus on the Family).
- Over 16 of America’s top health and mental health associations have issued research-based position statements that completely discredit Focus on the Family’s irresponsible and destructive claims. These include the American Medical Association, The American Psychiatric Association, The American Psychological Association, The American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, The American Academy of Pediatrics, and many others.
- Focus on the Family sponsors Exodus International, discredited "reparative therapy" programs, and the "Love Won Out" conference – teaching parents that childrearing mistakes and family problems caused their sons and daughters to be gay, and that their children are now doomed to live miserable, lonely, and unhealthy lives unless they "change."