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Family Policy Council

February 25, 2023

A Family Policy Council (FPC) is one of several US state-level organizations affiliated with Focus on the Family (FotF), a nationwide conservative Christian organization. Family Policy Councils work for policies that FotF describes as "pro-family".[1] These include opposition to same-sex marriage, LGBT adoption, and LGBT workplace protections, and support for abstinence-only sex education, increased legal restrictions on abortion and traditional Christian gender roles. FPCs also work to shape public opinion, organize political demonstrations, and cultivate future politicians.

FPCs form a network or "alliance" through which FotF exerts influence on local and state-level policy. They are joined via the organization Family Policy Alliance. This alliance began to be assembled in secret in the late 1980s, and became openly known in the 1990s. Some of the alliance member organizations are older than the alliance itself; the oldest dates to 1897. Before the alliance was publicly known, a few other organizations also used the name "Family Policy Council" in a generic sense. They were not affiliated with FotF and are now defunct.

The existence of Focus on the Family's affiliated FPCs has spurred the development of other, sometimes opposing policy organizations. An example is OutNebraska, a "statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization" that works against policy goals of Nebraska Family Alliance, an FPC.[2] The Southern Poverty Law Center has described FotF as a fringe and anti-LGBT organization that relies on misrepresenting scientific studies.[3]

Origins

Family Policy Councils are loosely based on the FotF-affiliated lobbying group Family Research Council,[4] which states: "Family Policy Councils (FPCs) accomplish at the state level what Family Research Council does at the national level - shape public debate and formulate public policy."[5]

Secret origins

Focus on the Family (FotF) states that the first Family Policy Council opened in 1988.[6] However, some FPCs are older than this because they were pre-existing organizations that later joined the alliance.

The early history of FPCs was kept "behind the scenes" by FotF.[1] Michael Jameson, a FotF representative, spoke about FotF's nascent effort to create "pro-family" organizations in US states to "affect legislation and to affect our culture" at 1989 Denver meeting of conservative policy groups. The United Methodist Reporter wrote that while FotF "is helping pro-family groups create coalitions, at the same time it is urging them to keep secret their participation in the coalition and even that a coalition exists." Jameson explained that "the coalitions can be more effective with a low profile and by leaving their public identity to the groups comprising the coalitions."[7]

Among the first of these organizations to openly name itself "Family Policy Council" is North Carolina Family Policy Council, founded in 1992.[8]

Reshaped organizations

Religion journalist Frederick Clarkson has stated that FotF "often has selected and reshaped an existing state-level organization rather than create a Family Policy Council from scratch."[4] Below are examples of organizations that were taken under the FotF umbrella:

Unaffiliated organizations sharing the term

The term "Family Policy Council" has also historically referred to government entities on a couple of occasions; these are not related to FotF. A Washington state coalition of state agencies[10] named Family Policy Council operated from 1992 to 2012.[11] A proposed Delaware government entity was also named Family Policy Council in 1993.[12]

An organization named "Family Policy Council" was active in Richmond, Virginia 1989. It was formed to oppose sex education.[13] Its affiliation with FotF is unclear.

Operations

Family Policy Councils sometimes divide their operations into legal entities with differing tax status. For example, Colorado Family Action is a 501(c)(4) organization, which can legally do more government lobbying than its sibling Colorado Family Action Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to shaping culture.[14]

As of 2019, Family Research Council's website lists FPCs for 41 states;[5] 39 of these are also listed by Family Policy Alliance.[15] Family Policy Alliance is FotF's state government lobbying arm and liaison to the FPCs.

FPCs' work is socially conservative.[16] FPCs sometimes coordinate their work with, and exchange staff with, a network of fiscal conservative organizations called State Policy Network (SPN). A few organizations are both FPC and SPN members, for example, Alabama Policy Institute.[4]

Impact

Family Policy Councils advocated for state bans on same-sex marriage in the 1990s and 2000s, many of which passed into law. A University of Arizona statistical study of the bans concluded that the "measure of Family Policy Council strength in a state increases the probability of adopting a same-sex marriage ban."[17]

An example is Ohio's gay marriage ban, spearheaded by the Ohio FPC in 2004.[18] A lawsuit against the Ohio ban lead to Obergefell v. Hodges, the US Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage nationwide in 2015.[19]

Listing of organizations

Focus on the Family affiliates

The following organizations have an official connection to Focus on the Family and its state government lobbying arm, Family Policy Alliance. This is not a complete list.[15]

Similar organizations

The following organizations also lobby for policy and encourage cultural change in connection with families. They are not affiliated with Focus on the Family, and may have differing and in some cases opposed policy goals.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Chandler, Russell (March 4, 1989). "Evangelical Broadcaster Seeks 'Pro-Family' Lobby". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  2. ^ Aviles, Gwen (September 13, 2019). "Trans cafe worker fired after kicking out conservative activist". NBC News. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  3. ^ "FOCUS ON THE FAMILY GOES AFTER LGBT STUDENTS". www.splcenter.org. September 3, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d Clarkson, Frederick (1999). "Takin' It to the States" (PDF). The Public Eye. Vol. XIII, no. 2/3. pp. 8–12. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "State Family Policy Councils". Family Research Council. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  6. ^ "Historical Timeline". Focus on the Family. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  7. ^ Boczkiewicz, Robert E. (March 10, 1989). "Conservative Christians organizing 'pro-family' coalitions within states". The United Methodist Reporter. Religious News Service. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  8. ^ "About NC Family". North Carolina Family Policy Council. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "Our Story". Citizens for Community Values. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  10. ^ Johnson, Carla K. (November 1, 1992). "Style divides superintendent candidates". The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  11. ^ "The Washington State Family Policy Council Legacy". ACE Response. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  12. ^ "Report covers old ground, but one idea deserves attention". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. August 22, 1993. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  13. ^ "Legislators start in slow motion". Daily News Leader. Staunton, Virginia. January 13, 1989. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  14. ^ "Colorado Family Action". Colorado Family Action. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Allies". Family Policy Alliance. 12 June 2019. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  16. ^ Rozell, Mark J.; Wilcox, Clyde (1996). "Second Coming: The Strategies of the New Christian Right". Political Science Quarterly. 111 (2): 273, 275–278. doi:10.2307/2152322. JSTOR 2152322.
  17. ^ Soule, Sarah A. (November 2004). "Going to the Chapel? Same-Sex Marriage Bans in the United States, 1973–2000". Social Problems. Oxford University Press. 51 (4): 469. doi:10.1525/sp.2004.51.4.453.
  18. ^ Korte, Gregory (28 October 2004). "Gay issue foes' names not listed". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  19. ^ Thompson, Ann (July 19, 2013). "Cincinnati Lawsuit Challenges Ohio's Same-Sex Marriage Ban". WVXU Cincinnati. Retrieved September 15, 2019.

External links

February 25, 2023
family, policy, council, several, state, level, organizations, affiliated, with, focus, family, fotf, nationwide, conservative, christian, organization, work, policies, that, fotf, describes, family, these, include, opposition, same, marriage, lgbt, adoption, . A Family Policy Council FPC is one of several US state level organizations affiliated with Focus on the Family FotF a nationwide conservative Christian organization Family Policy Councils work for policies that FotF describes as pro family 1 These include opposition to same sex marriage LGBT adoption and LGBT workplace protections and support for abstinence only sex education increased legal restrictions on abortion and traditional Christian gender roles FPCs also work to shape public opinion organize political demonstrations and cultivate future politicians FPCs form a network or alliance through which FotF exerts influence on local and state level policy They are joined via the organization Family Policy Alliance This alliance began to be assembled in secret in the late 1980s and became openly known in the 1990s Some of the alliance member organizations are older than the alliance itself the oldest dates to 1897 Before the alliance was publicly known a few other organizations also used the name Family Policy Council in a generic sense They were not affiliated with FotF and are now defunct The existence of Focus on the Family s affiliated FPCs has spurred the development of other sometimes opposing policy organizations An example is OutNebraska a statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization that works against policy goals of Nebraska Family Alliance an FPC 2 The Southern Poverty Law Center has described FotF as a fringe and anti LGBT organization that relies on misrepresenting scientific studies 3 Contents 1 Origins 1 1 Secret origins 1 2 Reshaped organizations 1 3 Unaffiliated organizations sharing the term 2 Operations 3 Impact 4 Listing of organizations 4 1 Focus on the Family affiliates 4 2 Similar organizations 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksOrigins EditFamily Policy Councils are loosely based on the FotF affiliated lobbying group Family Research Council 4 which states Family Policy Councils FPCs accomplish at the state level what Family Research Council does at the national level shape public debate and formulate public policy 5 Secret origins Edit Focus on the Family FotF states that the first Family Policy Council opened in 1988 6 However some FPCs are older than this because they were pre existing organizations that later joined the alliance The early history of FPCs was kept behind the scenes by FotF 1 Michael Jameson a FotF representative spoke about FotF s nascent effort to create pro family organizations in US states to affect legislation and to affect our culture at 1989 Denver meeting of conservative policy groups The United Methodist Reporter wrote that while FotF is helping pro family groups create coalitions at the same time it is urging them to keep secret their participation in the coalition and even that a coalition exists Jameson explained that the coalitions can be more effective with a low profile and by leaving their public identity to the groups comprising the coalitions 7 Among the first of these organizations to openly name itself Family Policy Council is North Carolina Family Policy Council founded in 1992 8 Reshaped organizations Edit Religion journalist Frederick Clarkson has stated that FotF often has selected and reshaped an existing state level organization rather than create a Family Policy Council from scratch 4 Below are examples of organizations that were taken under the FotF umbrella The Christian Civic League of Maine was founded in 1897 to support the prohibition of alcohol Nearly a century after it was founded it refocused from prohibition to matters of sexual morality and became a FotF affiliate Citizens for Community Values was a Cincinnati anti pornography organization founded in 1983 before becoming the official Family Policy Council for Ohio in 1991 9 The Wisconsin Family Council was founded as Family Research Institute of Wisconsin to advocate for corporal punishment in religious schools in 1986 The Minnesota Family Council was previously known as The Berean League a publisher of anti gay literature 4 Unaffiliated organizations sharing the term Edit The term Family Policy Council has also historically referred to government entities on a couple of occasions these are not related to FotF A Washington state coalition of state agencies 10 named Family Policy Council operated from 1992 to 2012 11 A proposed Delaware government entity was also named Family Policy Council in 1993 12 An organization named Family Policy Council was active in Richmond Virginia 1989 It was formed to oppose sex education 13 Its affiliation with FotF is unclear Operations EditFamily Policy Councils sometimes divide their operations into legal entities with differing tax status For example Colorado Family Action is a 501 c 4 organization which can legally do more government lobbying than its sibling Colorado Family Action Foundation a 501 c 3 organization dedicated to shaping culture 14 As of 2019 Family Research Council s website lists FPCs for 41 states 5 39 of these are also listed by Family Policy Alliance 15 Family Policy Alliance is FotF s state government lobbying arm and liaison to the FPCs FPCs work is socially conservative 16 FPCs sometimes coordinate their work with and exchange staff with a network of fiscal conservative organizations called State Policy Network SPN A few organizations are both FPC and SPN members for example Alabama Policy Institute 4 Impact EditFamily Policy Councils advocated for state bans on same sex marriage in the 1990s and 2000s many of which passed into law A University of Arizona statistical study of the bans concluded that the measure of Family Policy Council strength in a state increases the probability of adopting a same sex marriage ban 17 An example is Ohio s gay marriage ban spearheaded by the Ohio FPC in 2004 18 A lawsuit against the Ohio ban lead to Obergefell v Hodges the US Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage nationwide in 2015 19 Listing of organizations EditFocus on the Family affiliates Edit The following organizations have an official connection to Focus on the Family and its state government lobbying arm Family Policy Alliance This is not a complete list 15 Alabama Policy Institute Center for Arizona Policy Nebraska Family Alliance Indiana Family Institute The Family Leader in Iowa Family Foundation of Virginia Colorado Family Action Citizens for Community Values in Ohio Christian Civic League of Maine Cornerstone Policy Research in New Hampshire Missouri Family Policy Council Family Institute of Connecticut Louisiana Family Forum Palmetto Family Council Minnesota Family CouncilSimilar organizations Edit The following organizations also lobby for policy and encourage cultural change in connection with families They are not affiliated with Focus on the Family and may have differing and in some cases opposed policy goals Australian Family Association Campaign for Children and Families Love Makes a FamilySee also EditAlliance Defense Fund American Family Association Family Research Council Family Research InstituteReferences Edit a b Chandler Russell March 4 1989 Evangelical Broadcaster Seeks Pro Family Lobby Los Angeles Times Retrieved September 15 2019 Aviles Gwen September 13 2019 Trans cafe worker fired after kicking out conservative activist NBC News Retrieved September 15 2019 FOCUS ON THE FAMILY GOES AFTER LGBT STUDENTS www splcenter org September 3 2010 a b c d Clarkson Frederick 1999 Takin It to the States PDF The Public Eye Vol XIII no 2 3 pp 8 12 Retrieved September 15 2019 a b State Family Policy Councils Family Research Council Retrieved September 15 2019 Historical Timeline Focus on the Family Retrieved September 14 2019 Boczkiewicz Robert E March 10 1989 Conservative Christians organizing pro family coalitions within states The United Methodist Reporter Religious News Service Retrieved September 14 2019 About NC Family North Carolina Family Policy Council Retrieved September 15 2019 Our Story Citizens for Community Values Retrieved September 15 2019 Johnson Carla K November 1 1992 Style divides superintendent candidates The Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Retrieved September 15 2019 The Washington State Family Policy Council Legacy ACE Response Retrieved September 15 2019 Report covers old ground but one idea deserves attention The News Journal Wilmington Delaware August 22 1993 Retrieved September 15 2019 Legislators start in slow motion Daily News Leader Staunton Virginia January 13 1989 Retrieved September 15 2019 Colorado Family Action Colorado Family Action Retrieved September 15 2019 a b Allies Family Policy Alliance 12 June 2019 Retrieved September 15 2019 Rozell Mark J Wilcox Clyde 1996 Second Coming The Strategies of the New Christian Right Political Science Quarterly 111 2 273 275 278 doi 10 2307 2152322 JSTOR 2152322 Soule Sarah A November 2004 Going to the Chapel Same Sex Marriage Bans in the United States 1973 2000 Social Problems Oxford University Press 51 4 469 doi 10 1525 sp 2004 51 4 453 Korte Gregory 28 October 2004 Gay issue foes names not listed The Cincinnati Enquirer Retrieved September 15 2019 Thompson Ann July 19 2013 Cincinnati Lawsuit Challenges Ohio s Same Sex Marriage Ban WVXU Cincinnati Retrieved September 15 2019 External links EditFocus on the Family s State Family Policy Councils Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Family Policy Council amp oldid 1117023143, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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