The SPLC has labeled legitimate groups, like the Family Research Council, as hate groups.
Well, the FRC has said that gays are pedophiles who want to abolish age of consent laws... If you're saying that 'gay behavior' should be a criminal offense because gays pose a danger to children, an idea that completely goes against basically all research on the issue - what descriptor besides hate group would be appropriate here?
They pretend to “fight hate” but almost exclusively follow right wing groups, and are involved heavily with “rightwingwatch.com.”
Well yes. That speaks more to an ugly association between the American Right and anti-gay, xenophobic, anti-Muslim, and occasionally white nationalist (neo-confederate, racist, etc) groups than anything on the SPLC's part. They
do follow people like black separatists as well.
They continued to put groups like this in the same category as the KKK, the WBC, and the American Freedom Party. They have viciously attacked groups including the Tea Party movement for not agreeing with them, in the same style that they criticize the Tea Party for inciting violence.
Of those, only the WBC is included in the 'anti-gay' category - and it makes sense. Both oppose what they call the 'homosexual agenda' and view it as destructive of American society. That's what they've defined anti-gay group as meaning, and both fit into the category.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t particularly care for the Family Research Council or its goals. But all religious opposition to gay marriage should be respected, in the same manner that the SPLC demands that all other religions be respected.
The Covenant, The Sword, and the Arm of the Lord was acting on their religious beliefs. Should that be respected? Should the WBC's beliefs be respected? The Army of God acts on their religious beliefs too, as do the Hutaree. Why should it be acceptable to use religion as a shield for bigotry?
