Naperville hate group to picket SPLC over classification
Tue. January 17, 2012 12:55 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
peter labarbera of aftah
Montgomery, AL -
Americans For Truth About Homosexuality (AFTAH), based in west suburban Naperville, is set to hold a press conference outside the headquarters of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) Tuesday to protest the organization's classification of them as a hate group.
Headed by Peter LaBarbera, the anti-gay group was labeled a "hate group" by SPLC in 2010. AFTAH lost its tax-exempt status in 2011 for failure to file proper paper work for 3 consecutive years.
LaBarbera contends the SPLC has never labeled a "gay" organization or website as "hateful."
The SPLC's criteria for labeling a group or organization as a hate group requires that the group spread discredited and slanderous propaganda.
LaBarbera has a long history in Illinois' anti-gay movement. Prior to founding AFTAH, he lead the Illinois Family Institute, a group that worked to get anti-gay referenda on the Illinois state ballot. In 2006, he resigned from the Illinois Family Institute and re-launched his anti-gay message as Americans For Truth About Homosexuality.
Previously, the SPLC labeled the Illinois Family Institute as a hate group.
LaBarbera has also been employed by the anti-women's right organization, Concerned Women for America (CWA) and was a reporter for the conservative Washington Times newspaper.
The Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center, which works to fight discrimination, hate and bigotry and promote justice and equality, tracks hate groups and extremists across the country as a part of their mission.
Headed by Peter LaBarbera, the anti-gay group was labeled a "hate group" by SPLC in 2010. AFTAH lost its tax-exempt status in 2011 for failure to file proper paper work for 3 consecutive years.
LaBarbera contends the SPLC has never labeled a "gay" organization or website as "hateful."
The SPLC's criteria for labeling a group or organization as a hate group requires that the group spread discredited and slanderous propaganda.
LaBarbera has a long history in Illinois' anti-gay movement. Prior to founding AFTAH, he lead the Illinois Family Institute, a group that worked to get anti-gay referenda on the Illinois state ballot. In 2006, he resigned from the Illinois Family Institute and re-launched his anti-gay message as Americans For Truth About Homosexuality.
Previously, the SPLC labeled the Illinois Family Institute as a hate group.
LaBarbera has also been employed by the anti-women's right organization, Concerned Women for America (CWA) and was a reporter for the conservative Washington Times newspaper.
The Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center, which works to fight discrimination, hate and bigotry and promote justice and equality, tracks hate groups and extremists across the country as a part of their mission.