Alliance Defending Freedom is conservative Christian-funded legal activist specializing in constitutional law. It is based in Arizona and has branches in several other countries. The group advances the legal battles of religious conservatives, including those working on abortion and same-sex marriage cases.
In addition to the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League, Alliance Defending Freedom has been criticized by other groups for anti-LGBT extremism, including by multiple LGBT organizations, for its role at a 1993 gathering of religious conservatives where one speaker called for “the cleansing of North America” and “the purifying fire of AIDS.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has recognized ADF as a hate group [ which independently monitors and exposes extremist groups. The SPLC describes ADF as an organization that “stirs up anti-gay feeling as a way to promote its anti-gay agenda. “The SPLC characterizes ADF as a hate group because of its “long history of anti-gay extremism.” For example, in 2010, ADF was criticized for advising its clients to use their faith to deny marriage services to same-sex couples in Utah. It has also fought against domestic partner benefits for federal employees and advocated for laws that would prevent the adoption of gay and lesbian couples by gay men.
Attorneys at Alliance Defending Freedom have stated that they were “not aware of any criminal convictions” by one of its clients, Rev. Joseph Mattes, a Lutheran pastor in North Dakota who was convicted of 34 counts of sexual exploitation for using hidden cameras to record teenage boys showering in the high school athletic facilities.
Alliance Defending Freedom has continued to defend its client despite his conviction. ADF founder Alan Sears has stated that “there is a lack of evidence regarding guilt” and that “we are very suspicious about the government’s case against him.” Sears has claimed Mattes’ conviction is part of an attempt by the government to “intimidate religious organizations and their leaders. See related link to learn more.
More about ADF on https://www.adfministryalliance.org/