Focus on the Family CEO and President
Jim Daly has denied conceding that gay marriage is inevitable.
Daly, who took over leadership of the
group after founder James Dobson stepped aside, told
World
Magazine
this week that opponents of gay marriage have “probably lost.”
When asked how things stand on the
issue, Daly replied: “We're losing on that one, especially among
the 20- and 30-somethings: 65 to 70 percent of them favor same-sex
marriage. I don't know if that's going to change with a little more
age – demographers would say probably not. We've probably lost on
that one.”
But in an op-ed titled What's the
focus of Focus on the Family published by The Washington Post
on Wednesday, Daly accused supporters of “engaging in a little
wishful thinking.”
“Although [World Magazine's]
story touches on an array of subjects – Focus on the Family’s
nationwide orphan-care effort, how intact families help women and
children stay out of poverty, even the positive example President
Obama sets for the country as a committed family man – the
left-leaning blogosphere has zeroed in on one slice of one answer to
one question about same-sex marriage. When asked about cultural
trends on the subject, particularly polling among the millennial
generation, I acknowledged that recent data suggests this very
important and key group is polling behind the rest of the country on
marriage. To me, it was a simple statement of demographic and
statistical fact, but to those who advocate for same-sex marriage, it
is being presented as a concession speech regarding our efforts to
protect one-man, one-woman marriage.”
“So, let me be clear: I am not waving
a white flag. I’m not even contemplating picking one up,” he
added.
The column follows a Tuesday op-ed
published at Fox News in which Daly
warned that gay marriage would destroy religious liberty.