A new report has revealed several US Christian right groups spent millions to promote agendas against the LGBTQ community in Europe.
According to TIME, a report from openDemocracy recently showed that a lot of money was spent to oppose the issues related to LGBTQ and women’s rights.
Around 28 U.S. Christian right groups were found to be involved in this big revelation. They promoted conservative agendas that are anti-LGBTQ and oppose the rights of women as well.
Such groups and organizations were involved in legal conflicts in Europe. They were against same-sex adoption and defending legislation against same-sex couples. They also tried to limit access to contraception and abortion in the case of women.
Details on US Christian groups opposing LGBTQ
The report revealed mainly two reputed US Christian legal advocacy groups. They are the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). The latter is also considered to be a hate group, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. It’s always been against same-sex communities.
These groups spent nearly $3.7 million in Europe in 2018, the openDemocracy’s findings revealed. The figure is based on publicly available non-profit tax filings.
Moreover, all 28 organizations spent a total of $88 million between 2007 and 2018. Interestingly, it’s even greater than the amount spent in America. Other regions where they spent money on such agendas include Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Coming back to ACLJ, its chief counsel since 1991, Jay Sekulow, is also Donald Trump’s personal lawyer. He also served as counsel for the US President’s impeachment trial.
Also, the ADF, too, consists of links to the Trump administration. Its former staffers, allies, and supporters are also among those appointed in his government. This group’s funding also increased constantly between 2014 to 2018, from $1.4 million to $2.5 million.
The report comes before US Elections in November
Speaking from another perspective, this openDemocracy report’s timing is quite interesting because it’s just coming ahead of the United States’ elections.
Most of the new attacks are targeted on Donald Trump these days, due to his insignificant remarks made in the past. And it continued even during the pandemic for the last few months.
People didn’t like many of his comments regarding the impact of COVID-19 in the US. Right now, the political analysts are predicting a big defeat of the Republican party.
Criticized, time-to-time, over diversity, inclusivity, and equality, the party seems weaker. The members of the LGBTQ community in America will also think again before voting for them.
The present situation carries the wave of pro movements like Black Lives Matter, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+. And in the elections, they will definitely play very crucial roles.
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