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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.[1] 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.[2]
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,[3] preventing military chaplains from performing same-sex ceremonies,[4] and becoming the most popular girl in school. They claimed that the US government funds homosexual pornography,[5] and ranted about Creeping Sharia.[6]
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.[1][7]
The TVC website defined "traditional values" as being:
- Opposition to LGBT rights in general and same-sex marriage in particular
- 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[8]
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,[9] calling for a nationwide boycott of Groupon for offering discounts to porn sites,[10] and being disgusted over the presence of a trans woman in the Miss Universe contest.[11]
The TVC was one of the main supporters of Creation Ministries International's Question Evolution! campaign:
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[12]
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.[1] Good riddance!
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Brendan Joel Kelley, The rise and fall of the Traditional Values Coalition. Southern Poverty Law Center, 30 March 2018.
- ↑ Sticking With Tradition. russbaker.com, 25 November 2003.
- ↑ ENDA Hurts Kids. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.
- ↑ Military Chaplains Under Threat. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2012.
- ↑ SEXPULSE:$5 Million Government Funded Gay Porn. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.
- ↑ Islam vs Constitution. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.
- ↑ How a Lobbyist Stacked the Deck. The Washington Post, 2005.
- ↑ Traditional valued defined. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.
- ↑ When You Watch Movies at AMC Theaters, You're Sponsoring COMMUNISM!. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.
- ↑ Groupon Porn Discount? Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.
- ↑ Donald Trump Has Unique Tastes For His Beauty Pageants. Traditional Values Coalition, archived from 2013.
- ↑ Michael Gryboski, On Darwin's Birthday, Some Celebrate 'Question Evolution Day'. Christian Post, 14 February 2012.