Defunct Newspapers Journals TV channels Websites Other Congressional caucuses Economics Gun rights Identity politics Nativist Religion Watchdog groups Youth/student groups Social media Miscellaneous Other Focus on the Family (FOTF or FotF) is a fundamentalist Protestant[3] organization founded in 1977 in Southern California by James Dobson, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

[5] It most prominently lobbies against LGBT rights — including those related to marriage, adoption, and parenting — labeling it a "particularly evil lie of Satan".

[6][7] The organization also seeks to change public policy in the areas of sex education, creationism, abortion, state-sponsored school prayer, gambling, drugs, and enforcement of their interpretation of proper gender roles.

[8][9][10] The core promotional activities of the organization include the flagship daily radio broadcast currently hosted by its president Jim Daly together with co-host Focus VP John Fuller.

Focus also provides free resources in line with the group's views, and publishes books, magazines, videos, and audio recordings.

The program, often titled No Apologies, had some success in Muslim-majority countries such as Egypt and Malaysia where the teachings of abstinence aligned with messages of Islam.

Daly made connections with figures and organizations that founder Dobson disdained and cut off, such as Democratic United States President Barack Obama, liberal activist Ted Trimpa, and the newspaper The Independent.

FOTF officials said that ultrasound services help a woman better understand her pregnancy and baby's development, creating an important "bonding opportunity" between "mother and unborn child".

[32] Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) introduced a sonogram bill in 2011 and, citing Focus on the Family, told Congress that "78 percent of women who see and hear the fetal heartbeat choose life."

The site has been classified as a webzine, and originally included a moderated forum for young adults to exchange thoughts and ideas about topics relevant to them without being dictated what they should believe by an "authoritarian tone".

[38] Founders described the goal of the event, created in opposition to the anti-bullying and anti-homophobic Day of Silence, as "encouraging honest and respectful conversation among students about God's design for sexuality."

[39] In 2007, Exodus International began supporting the Day of Truth, an event created by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in 2005 that challenges homosexuality.

To reduce the time that the events were taking Dobson away from his own family, the seminars were eventually recorded and released as a seven-part film series.

According to the organization, this funding, which has allowed CPCs to provide pregnant women with live sonogram images of the developing fetus, has led directly to the birth of over 1500 babies who would have otherwise been aborted.

[60] In New Zealand, Focus on the Family supported a Citizens Initiated Referendum on the repeal of section 59 of the Crimes Act 1961, which placed limits on the physical disciplining of children.

[61] Focus on the Family Singapore came under criticism in October 2014 over allegations of sexism and promoting gender stereotypes during their workshops on managing relationships for junior college students.

[62] Following the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Focus on the Family published an article on its Daily Citizen site urging conservative Christians to engage in a "cultural civil war" against "radical abortion laws" implemented in left-leaning states.

[63] This added to speculation that political violence similar to the January 6th attacks could be accepted or encouraged on the grounds of opposing abortion rights.

Prior to the election, a television and letter campaign was launched predicting terrorist attacks in four U.S. cities and equating the U.S. with Nazi Germany.

"[67] According to USA Today, the letter "is part of an escalation in rhetoric from Christian right activists" trying to paint Democratic Party presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama in a negative light.

[69] One of Focus on the Family's notable political stances is its strong opposition to same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.

[6] Focus on the Family founder James Dobson drew criticism for using the group to oppose homosexual members in the United States Military.

[75] Focus on the Family was a member of ProtectMarriage.com, a coalition formed to sponsor California Proposition 8, a ballot initiative to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples, which passed in 2008,[76] but was subsequently struck down as being unconstitutional by a federal court in Perry v. Schwarzenegger.

[84] Other scientists who have criticized Focus on the Family for misrepresenting their findings include Robert Spitzer,[85] Gary Remafedi,[83] and Angela Phillips.

[85] In 2010, Focus on the Family bought ad time during Super Bowl XLIV to air a commercial featuring Heisman Trophy winning Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam.

However, CBS stated that "we have for some time moderated our approach to advocacy submissions after it became apparent that our stance did not reflect public sentiment or industry norms on the issue.

"[91] Focus on the Family produced another commercial which ran during the second quarter of the January 14, 2012 Denver Broncos-New England Patriots AFC Divisional Playoff broadcast on CBS,[92] featuring children reciting the Bible verse John 3:16.

It did gain some national media attention, and president Jim Daly stated in a press release that its purpose was to "help everyone understand some numbers are more important than the ones on the scoreboard.

[104] Focus on the Family's original headquarters were in Arcadia, California for the initial fourteen years following the time that James Dobson incorporated the company.

The organization began with 500 square feet of office space and employed a single part-time secretary, according to the prior director of corporate affairs, Dan Wright.