Annual donations at Focus on the
Family, one of the nation's largest groups opposed to gay rights,
have plunged $15 million, the Denver
Post reported.
The Colorado Springs, Colorado-based
ministry built by James Dobson had a $105 million budget for the
fiscal year that ends on September 30, but officials project an
estimated shortfall of $10 to $15 million.
The deficit has prompted a new round of
layoffs.
The roughly 7 percent staff cut leaves
the ministry with 650 employees, less than half the number employed
by the group in 2002, when 1,400 people earned a paycheck at the
non-profit.
“God has never promised us a certain
budget number. We're sad today but not distraught about the future,”
Focus Vice President Gary Schneeberger told the paper. “Even in
these bad economic times people who care about the ministry gave us
more than $90 million. We've been able to help tens of thousands of
families with their marriages, raising their kids and walking in
their faith. Our commitment to that mission is unabated.”
Focus on the Family has spent millions
of those dollars fighting laws that recognize gay and lesbian unions
– either marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships – and
the repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the policy set to expire
on Tuesday which bans gay and bisexual troops from serving openly.
The group has also railed against laws that protect transgender
people from discrimination.