Focus on the Family founder James
Dobson is leaving the organization, but he's got no plans to retire
his anti-gay rhetoric, gay rights activist Wayne Besen says.
Last February, Dobson stepped down as
chairman of the anti-gay group he founded in 1977 but remained the
group's primary radio voice. A post he'll retire next month.
During the last eight transition years
when Dobson slowly ceded power, the 73-year-old has often said he was
looking forward to retirement and becoming a full-time grandparent
with his wife, Shirley. Instead, he announced last week that he'll
head up a new group and co-host a new radio program with his son,
Ryan, who runs KOR
World Ministries.
“He has the chance to share his
life's work and passion with his only son,” Jim Daly, president and
CEO of Focus, said in a statement congratulating Dobson on his new
venture. “What man wouldn't choose to do that?”
Dobson ascended to prominence with a
socially conservative anti-gay message. With publications such as
Citizen Link and radio broadcasts the group continues to voice
its opposition to any pro-gay legislation, including the recent
decision to broaden the federal definition of hate crimes to include
sexual orientation and gender identity. Dobson also leads the
movement to have openly gay safe schools czar Kevin Jennings axed by
the Obama administration.
Wayne Besen, executive director of
Truth Wins
Out, a group he founded to combat anti-gay social conservatives,
told On Top Magazine in November that a cooling off of the
culture wars wouldn't follow Dobson's announced retirement. After
naming several potential successors – including Rick Warren, Sarah
Palin and NOM's Maggie Gallagher – he said: “So, there is hardly
time to throw a victory parade.”
And Besen said this week that Dobson is
likely to escalate his anti-gay message.
“I predict that Dobson's new venture
will be more hard core than Focus on the Family,” he said in an
email. “He will have fewer constraints and will use it as a
platform to spew anti-gay views and promote anachronistic ideas.”