Mike Pence to Deliver Keynote Address Today at Focus On The Family’s 40th Anniversary Celebration (Video)

James Dobson Founded Two Virulently Anti-Gay Groups: Focus On The Family and Family Research Council

Vice President Mike Pence is on his way to Colorado Springs to deliver the keynote address at the 40th anniversary celebration of one of America’s oldest anti-gay organizations, Focus On The Family. While not designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the group’s founder, James Dobson, also founded another of the most virulent anti-gay hate groups, Family Research Council.

Pence’s entire career has been landmarked by attacks on the LGBT community, so it’s no surprise he agreed to deliver the speech. The former Indiana governor and his wife are closely tied to Dobson. In October last year, Pence gave an interview to Dobson. The vice-presidential candidate told the 81-year old evangelical activist it was the “greatest honor” of his life.

You can watch Pence’s speech starting at 12:20 PM EDT here:

While Dobson projects an appearance of passivity, a kindly grandfather, he’s made clear his hatred of LGBT people.

In June of last year Dobson announced he was sad that fathers aren’t protecting their wives and daughters by shooting transgender people – whom he suggested are all “perverts” – when they use restrooms that correspond with their gender identity.

Dobson said the typical transgender woman is “a strange-looking man, dressed like a woman,” who peers “over toilet cubicles to watch your wife in a private moment.” 

“If you are a dad, I pray you will protect your little girls from men who walk in unannounced, unzip their pants and urinate in front of them. If this had happened 100 years ago, someone might have been shot. Where is today’s manhood? God help us!”

Dobson joined Trump’s evangelical advisory board and later endorsed Trump last summer, giving the GOP candidate cover for his failings, saying the billionaire had in fact, accepted “a relationship with Christ” and was now a “baby Christian.”

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Image by Michael Vadon via Flickr and a CC license