Focus on the Family Urges United Way Donors to Withhold Contributions to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Focus on the Family
Thursday, 20 February 2003

Vice President Says Homosexual Mentor Policy Ignores Psychological Research and Places Children at Risk

Focus on the Family today urged corporations and individuals who donate to the United Way to exclude Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) from their charitable contributions. The action is in response to Big Brothers' national directive forcing all 490 of its local chapters to accept homosexuals as mentors to children.

Dr. Bill Maier, vice president and psychologist in residence at Focus on the Family, announced the action on the organization's daily radio broadcast. "The national leadership of Big Brothers has received a landslide of criticism from parents, pro-family groups, members of Congress and even its own local directors," Maier said. "But they stubbornly refuse to reconsider this ill-advised policy, choosing instead to appease homosexual pressure groups at the expense of the well being of the children they serve."

Maier pointed out that most United Way contributors are unaware that a portion of their donations may be used by Big Brothers to pair children with gay and lesbian mentors. "Millions of United Way donors would be shocked to learn that their money is being used to match fatherless boys with homosexual men," he said. "We believe these donors have a right to know, and that United Way has an obligation to respect their wishes."

According to Maier, children who are involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters programs are primarily from single-parent homes: "Many of these children are emotionally fragile and desperate for attention and affirmation from an adult of their own gender. Fatherless boys and motherless girls need healthy, same-sex role models, but Big Brothers has decided to pair them with homosexual mentors."

The Journal of the American Medical Association reported in January 2001 that homosexuals have extremely high rates of sexually transmitted disease, psychiatric illness, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide. In addition, the American Journal of Public Health has said that one out of five gay men report being beaten by a partner, and 5 percent acknowledge being raped. Maier noted, "Big Brothers has chosen to ignore these facts in their zeal to pair impressionable children with homosexual mentors."

Dr. James Dobson, founder and president of Focus on the Family, has encouraged United Way contributors to contact the organization's local office and request that no part of their donation be used to support Big Brothers. "Many United Way chapters continue to withhold funding from the Boy Scouts in order to punish them for their policy on homosexual scoutmasters," Dobson said. "United Way donors who object to Big Brothers' gay mentor program should have that same right. If United Way refuses to accommodate their request, they ought to direct their charitable contributions elsewhere."

Dobson added, "I have supported Big Brothers Big Sisters for years, but the well being of children is too important to ignore. It is unfortunate that such a reputable organization has resorted to playing political games with America's children caught in the crosshairs. I hope that even now Big Brothers Big Sisters will reassess their dangerous policy."

Today's broadcast can be heard at: www.family.org.

For more information, or to contact Focus on the Family, see their website at: www.family.org