GLAD Applauds Removal of American Family Association from CT State Charitable Campaign for Failure to Comply with Non-Discrimination Requirement
January 6, 2017
Today, Connecticut state Comptroller Kevin Lembo announced that the American Family Association (AFA) would no longer be part of the Connecticut State Employees Campaign. The AFA refused to provide the state with a copy of its non-discrimination policy, which is required of all organizations participating in the campaign.
When Comptroller Lembo requested the policy last month, his office was hit with thousands of emails, phone calls, and tweets from AFA’s supporters. Some directed homophobic slurs against Lembo, an openly gay public servant.
“The American Family Association has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center,” said Jennifer Levi, Senior Staff Attorney for GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). “It took courage for the Comptroller simply to do his job and request that they meet the same requirements as all other CSEC groups. The citizens of Connecticut can be proud that they live in a state that embraces all its citizens.”