The Rev. Don Wildmon has resigned as
chairman of the Christian-based American Family Association (AFA),
the AP reported.
The announcement follows a prolonged
hospitalization for the 72-year-old Wildmon, whose son Tim will take
over the AFA's helm.
The group, founded in 1977 as the
National Federation for Decency, has a long history of objecting to
equal rights for gay men and lesbians. It has lobbied against gay
marriage and hate-crime laws that include sexual orientation and
gender identity.
It has also organized several boycotts
against large corporations which support the gay community, including
Ford Motor Company, Hallmark, Pepsi, McDonald's and Campbell's.
Last year, gay activists protested the
group's promotion of an anti-gay video titled Speechless:
Silencing the Christians that
asserts that the gay men and lesbians are largely responsible for the
HIV/AIDS epidemic along with all STDs and that gay marriage hurts the
family because it deprives children of a mother or a father, among
other things.
The film aired in several markets
throughout the country.
AFA has an annual $20 million budget
and owns 180 radio stations.