Newt Gingrich on Tuesday won the
endorsement of Don Wildmon, the former head of the anti-gay group
American Family Association (AFA).
The 73-year-old Wildmon stepped down as
chairman of the AFA last March after a prolonged hospitalization.
His currently serves as chairman emeritus of the AFA.
The AFA has lobbied against gay
marriage and hate-crime laws that include sexual orientation and
gender identity. It has also organized several boycotts against
large corporations which have reached out to the gay community,
including Ford Motor Company, Hallmark, Pepsi, McDonald's and
Campbells.
“Newt Gingrich recognizes the threat
to our country posed by judges and lawyers imposing values upon the
country inconsistent with our religious heritage, and has proposed
constitutional steps to bring the courts back in balance under the
Constitution,” Wildmon said in a statement.
In thanking Wildmon for his
endorsement, Gingrich described him as “one of the most important
leaders in the country in the battle to uphold our founding
principles,” The
Hill reported.
“I am humbled and honored to have his
endorsement,” he added.
(Related: Newt
Gingrich attacks judges after backing effort against judges over gay
marriage.)