Levi Haapala

ENG102

Prof Parker

07/Mar/2016

                                                LGBT Not so Subtle Enemy

            Across the world LGBT right for equality have been passed with hard work and battles won, but who is the enemy of the LGBT community? For many it is a boogie man tales of monsters that will attack when least expected. Sadly there is no boogieman, or shadowy figure lurking in the closet afraid to come out when the lights are on. No it is a group one that has been defined as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. World Congress of Families (WCF) based out of Illinois is a world conglomerate that believes in its righteousness and moral authority it openly fights and challenges any and all LGBT movements. It is hard enough to fight when your opponent is on equal footing it is harder when your enemy had political figures of influential power and other countries rallying to the hate flag.

            According to the article "Exposed: The World Congress of Families," many conservative religious groups based in the U.S., religious authorities and even politicians are a part of this group (Carez). The funding for this group can be traced to many countries, like Russia, that have placed anti-homosexual propaganda laws. The WCF also gets funding from its parent company The Howard Center, but not the all of its donations the WCF does get a majority of its funding from American sources though. The halting of LGBT right is not the only thing this group is fighting against with the LGBT community the WFC is also fight against women’s right as well.

            With this not being has not been confirmed to have been happening in Russia it has been in reports in Africa. The WFC has been pushing for continued criminalization of any LGBT community to include with this a slow down or halt in women’s right, sexual health screening, and sexual education (Carez). In countries like Nigeria the WFC has been caught encouraging the country to break its international commitments. In Australia the WFC has held rallies against same sex marriage with results towards their goal, due to Prime Minister Tony Abbott appointing a long time leader and supporter of the WFC to the position of Minister of Social Services. With high influence over powerful political positions this group can be very hurtful to the goals of equality for the LGBT community.

            It comes down to this if left unchecked a group like the WFC, that does not have a high support numbers, can achieve what it wants with just a few people in key places. This and other groups have in their arsenal one of the trickiest things that they can use if ever put on the defensive. A victim card call religious right with this it makes every argument one of freedom of religion and tucks itself away under this shield. While this may not have a lot of weight here in America is does have overseas, coupled with key political people as member s of this group it could be a battle lost if not watched with a carful eye

 

 

                                                              

 

 

      Work Cited

Williams, Steve. "How One US Group Is Using Family Values to Promote Global Anti-Gay Hate." Truth-out.org, 20 Aug. 2014. Web. 7 Mar. 2016. <http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/25904-how-one-us-group-is-using-family-values-to-promote-global-anti-gay-hate>.