Connecticut Official Demands American Family Association Discard Its Christian Beliefs

TUPELO, Miss.—Regardless of election results on Nov. 8, secular progressives in America remain intent on driving Christians out of the public square. Actions by the state of Connecticut last week proved it.

On Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, the American Family Association (AFA, www.afa.net) received a letter from the State of Connecticut Comptroller’s Office. The letter alleged, “AFA may be in violation of the regulations governing the Connecticut State Employee Campaign for Charitable Giving that broadly prohibit discrimination.”

The charitable giving program allows state employees to donate to the non-profit charity of their choice. Connecticut had already approved AFA as a legitimate charity. Click here to read the full letter.

In the letter, State Comptroller Kevin Lembo wrote, “[T]here are several indications that AFA may be violating these anti-discrimination prohibitions.” Interestingly, the letter never cites any state or federal laws of which AFA might be in violation.

“To support his assertion that we ‘may be in violation,’ Mr. Lembo zeroed in on our biblical beliefs about human sexuality, marriage and family—and especially our actions to uphold those values,” said AFA President Tim Wildmon in an Action Alert to AFA’s more than one million friends and supporters. “He specifically mentioned our ongoing and successful boycott of Target over the company’s dangerous and misguided policy allowing men in the same bathrooms and dressing rooms as women. The Connecticut official also mentioned AFA’s One Million Moms division and its recent Action Alert denouncing the jewelry store Zales for promoting homosexuality in its advertising.”

The letter also demanded that AFA prove it was in compliance with all non-discrimination policies regarding homosexuality.

“This is a state government official coming directly after AFA, and the letter is nothing more than an attack on AFA for standing strong for biblical principles,” Wildmon continued. “Moreover, it is an unconstitutional attack on the First Amendment rights of all religious organizations. The government is not allowed to dictate to religious charities what they can believe in order to participate in the public square. The intolerant actions of Kevin Lembo and the state of Connecticut must immediately cease, and we are asking our supporters—and those who support freedom of speech and freedom of religion—to let them know that this abuse of power is not acceptable.”

To that end, AFA is asking those concerned with this matter to take action by contacting the Connecticut State Comptroller’s Office and urging Mr. Lembo to retract his letter in full and issue a public apology to the American Family Association.

• Call (860) 702-3300 or (860) 702-3301.
• Connect with Comptroller Kevin Lembo on Facebook, the Office of the State Comptroller website or on Twitter.
• Email kevin.lembo@ct.gov with your own message or a pre-written message from AFA, which begins, “Your actions against American Family Association are unconstitutional and un-American. Non-profit organizations should not be discriminated against simply because of your personal disdain for their religious beliefs.”

For more information on American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or on Twitter @AmericanFamAssc.

To interview a representative from American Family Association, contact Jen Retallick, 610-584-1096, ext. 100, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com or Deborah Hamilton, 610-584-1096, ext. 102, 215.815.7716.