What does “anti-LGBT” actually mean? The term is vague and general in reality, but means something specific in the mind of those who use it. What it means depends on the stance of the person speaking. To consider same sex marriage morally wrong and not deserving acknowledgement or support by the State will be considered “anti-LGBT” by some and an entirely proper position by others.
Clearly the ACP is opposed to many ideas which are endorsed or promoted by groups that might be called “pro-LGBT”…but that does not make them wrong or bad, and certainly not deserving of the “hate” descriptor (which I recognise you are not applying).
Well, to be clear, the SPLC is quite explicit about the fact that simply being opposed to same sex marriage or “viewing homosexuality as unbiblical does not qualify organizations for listing as hate groups.” Richard Cohen, head of the SPLC has further clarified: “Nowhere in our report do we equate taking a position against same-sex marriage with hate speech.” They define hate groups as those that “have beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics,” and that promote “known falsehoods”
Apparently, the ACP continues to make the claim that gay men have far higher rates of child sexual abuse, a claim that has been thoroughly debunked time and again. Researchers like Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, objected to their use of her research, saying,"It is disturbing to me to see special interest groups distort my scientific observations to make a point against homosexuality…the information they present is misleading and incorrect.”
To be sure there a groups that are on a totally different level and that I have no problem labeling as “hate groups.” After the Orlando shooting, here are what some pastors had to say:
“The tragedy is that more of them didn’t die…I’m kind of upset he didn’t finish the job — because these people are predators……Are you sad that 50 pedophiles were killed today? Um, no. I think that’s great. I think that helps society. I think Orlando, Fla., is a little safer tonight…It is unnatural for a man to be attracted to another man….I wish the government would round them all up, put them up against a firing wall, put the firing squad in front of them and blow their brains out.”
Pastor Roger Jimenez, Verity Baptist Church, Sacramento, CA
Pastor Donnie Romero of Fort Worth, TX told his congregation that all every gay person was a pedophile, saying “I’ll pray to God that God will finish the job that that man started," so that no more children would be harmed.
Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, AZ., also referred to the victims of the shooting as pedophiles, applauding that “these dangerous, filthy predators are off the street.” He had more to add:: “These people all should have been killed, anyway, but they should have been killed through the proper channels, as in they should have been executed by a righteous government.”
The ACP obviously does not advocate the execution of gay people or celebrate their murders, but notice the common theme among those who do. The ACP gives legitimacy to those beliefs, so I don’t think they can so easily wash their hands of any responsibility.