March 9th, 2010
Seattle-area pastor Ken Hutcherson, a co-founder of Watchmen On the Walls which is one of about a dozen anti-gay hate groups monitored by the Southern Poverty Law Center, mourns the retirement of James Dobson from Focus On the Family. Not only that, but Hutcherson sees a conspiracy — Dobson didn’t retire; he was pushed out:
I am not very happy with the new, progressive, “loving” leadership at Focus on the Family. However, it is God’s ministry, and He will do with it what He pleases.
While I don’t work for Focus, I definitely have an opinion. God used Dr. James Dobson as its founder to change the world’s view of the family. Taking him off the air effective this month was not Dr. Dobson’s decision but a board decision. Why was that decision made? What prayerful consideration did the board engage in that ended with their choice to remove Dr. Dobson from the air? Evidently, he didn’t want to stop his voice from being heard over the airways after turning over leadership to the new team. The new radio program he is launching tells me that.
Hutcherson also complains that he wasn’t offered the leadership post at Focus On the Family. Then he says he would have turned it down because he already has a ministry. Then he says he has no ego. Self-awareness is definitely not his strong suit.
Latest Posts
Featured Reports
In this original BTB Investigation, we unveil the tragic story of Kirk Murphy, a four-year-old boy who was treated for “cross-gender disturbance” in 1970 by a young grad student by the name of George Rekers. This story is a stark reminder that there are severe and damaging consequences when therapists try to ensure that boys will be boys.
When we first reported on three American anti-gay activists traveling to Kampala for a three-day conference, we had no idea that it would be the first report of a long string of events leading to a proposal to institute the death penalty for LGBT people. But that is exactly what happened. In this report, we review our collection of more than 500 posts to tell the story of one nation’s embrace of hatred toward gay people. This report will be updated continuously as events continue to unfold. Check here for the latest updates.
In 2005, the Southern Poverty Law Center wrote that “[Paul] Cameron’s ‘science’ echoes Nazi Germany.” What the SPLC didn”t know was Cameron doesn’t just “echo” Nazi Germany. He quoted extensively from one of the Final Solution’s architects. This puts his fascination with quarantines, mandatory tattoos, and extermination being a “plausible idea” in a whole new and deeply disturbing light.
On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.
Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Part 2: Parents Struggle With “No Exceptions”
Part 3: A Whole New Dialect
Part 4: It Depends On How The Meaning of the Word "Change" Changes
Part 5: A Candid Explanation For "Change"
At last, the truth can now be told.
Using the same research methods employed by most anti-gay political pressure groups, we examine the statistics and the case studies that dispel many of the myths about heterosexuality. Download your copy today!
And don‘t miss our companion report, How To Write An Anti-Gay Tract In Fifteen Easy Steps.
Anti-gay activists often charge that gay men and women pose a threat to children. In this report, we explore the supposed connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse, the conclusions reached by the most knowledgeable professionals in the field, and how anti-gay activists continue to ignore their findings. This has tremendous consequences, not just for gay men and women, but more importantly for the safety of all our children.
Anti-gay activists often cite the “Dutch Study” to claim that gay unions last only about 1½ years and that the these men have an average of eight additional partners per year outside of their steady relationship. In this report, we will take you step by step into the study to see whether the claims are true.
Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council submitted an Amicus Brief to the Maryland Court of Appeals as that court prepared to consider the issue of gay marriage. We examine just one small section of that brief to reveal the junk science and fraudulent claims of the Family “Research” Council.
The FBI’s annual Hate Crime Statistics aren’t as complete as they ought to be, and their report for 2004 was no exception. In fact, their most recent report has quite a few glaring holes. Holes big enough for Daniel Fetty to fall through.
Frijondi
March 9th, 2010
I’m sure Hutcherson wasn’t even considered, because he has “small-timer” written all over him. They need someone more sophisticated to run an organization of that size and prominence.
My guess is that the Dobson brand was starting to look a little dated. I doubt there’s been any real shift in FoF’s position on gays, or anything else.
Ephilei
March 9th, 2010
“God used Dr. James Dobson as its founder to change the world’s view of the family.”
What?! You can change the view of the family! The family is the oldest institution in the world and the bedrock of civilization. Changing it will lead to global catastrophe. Dobson told me so.
Priya Lynn
March 9th, 2010
Right on Ephilei.
David C.
March 9th, 2010
Neither is his brain.
Eric in Oakland
March 9th, 2010
“change the world’s view of the family”
Sure. Cause the world to view the word “family” as fundie code for “anti-gay”.
alguien
March 9th, 2010
if you read hutcherson’s entire piece you’ll note that he seems utterly gay for james dobson.
Regan DuCasse
March 9th, 2010
Okay, it’s been a while since I could laugh out loud at something Hutcherson says, or when these people bitch about each other.
Anti gay folks make some strange bedfellows, but didn’t Hutcherson notice the racial divide in the most visible anti gay groups?
Hasn’t he noticed that engaging black folks against gay folks was for the purpose of tilting the popular vote, not running the show?
He should have checked the histories of those groups.
It’s not like they were in the forefront or visible as allies during the Civil Rights movement. Lou Sheldon, Jerry Falwell and James Dobson were around for that. Falwell was a committed segregationist.
Some black folks are screamingly stupid. Does it not occur to Hutcherson that anyone supportive of systemic bigotry and discrimination, usually doesn’t do so against a SINGLE group of people?
Jeff L
March 19th, 2010
I am sure whomever replaces Dobson will lead in his same domineering style. As a Christian, I was always dismayed by the preaching of hate as being acceptable and welcomed.
Leave A Comment