James Dobson

===Views on homosexuality===
Dobson believes that God defines marriage as between one man and one woman only and describes this as the central stabilizing institution of society.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}} Dobson believes that any sexual activity outside of such a union—including homosexuality—cannot be approved by God.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}} In Dobson's view, homosexuality results from influences in a child's [[environment and sexual orientation|environment rather than an inborn trait]]. He states that homosexual behavior, specifically "unwanted same-sex attraction", has been and can be "[[Sexual orientation change efforts|overcome]]" through understanding developmental models for homosexuality and choosing to heal the complex developmental issues which led to same-sex attraction.<ref name=stranger05>{{cite news |first=David |last=Schmader |title=Jesus Hates You; Christians Rationalize Bigotry at "Love Won Out" |work=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]] |date=2005-06-30 |volume=14 |issue=42 |page=16}}</ref>

Focus on the Family ministry sponsors<ref name="autogenerated1"/> the monthly conference [[Love Won Out]], where participants hear "powerful stories of [[ex-gay]] men and women."<ref name=msnbc05 /> [[Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays]] (P-FLAG) has protested against the conference in Orlando, questioning both its [[methodology]] and supposed success.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.truthwinsout.org/pressreleases/orlando-sentinel-gay-activists-to-protest-orlando-event-notion-that-homosexuality-is-curable/ |title=Orlando Sentinel: Gay activists to protest Orlando event, notion that homosexuality is 'curable' |date=2008-06-06 |access-date=2008-09-05 |work=Truthwinsout.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011221908/http://www.truthwinsout.org/pressreleases/orlando-sentinel-gay-activists-to-protest-orlando-event-notion-that-homosexuality-is-curable/ |archive-date=October 11, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In regards to the conference, Dobson has stated that "Gay activists come with preconceived notions about who we are and what we believe and about the hate that boils from within, which is simply not true. Regardless of what the media might say, Focus on the Family has no interest in promoting [[homophobia|hatred toward homosexuals]] or anyone else. We also don't wish to deprive them of their basic [[constitutional right]]s ... The Constitution applies to all of us."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/gays-still-looking-for-love-from-christians-31579/ |title=Gays Still Looking for Love from Christians |newspaper=The Christian Post |last=Kwon |first=Lillian |date=2008-03-19 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102070247/http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080319/31579_Gays_Still_Looking_for_Love_from_Christians.htm |archive-date=2013-01-02 |access-date=2018-05-26 |url-status=unfit}}</ref> Dobson strongly opposes the movement to legitimize same-sex relationships.{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}} In his book ''Bringing Up Boys'', Dobson states, "[T]he disorder is not typically 'chosen.' Homosexuals deeply resent being told that they selected this same-sex inclination in pursuit of sexual excitement or some other motive. It is unfair, and I don't blame them for being irritated by that assumption. Who among us would knowingly choose a path that would result in alienation from family, rejection by friends, disdain from the heterosexual world, exposure to sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS and tuberculosis, and even a shorter lifespan?"<ref>''Bringing Up Boys'', Focus on the Family 2003, pp. 115-116</ref>

Sociologist [[Judith Stacey]] criticized Dobson for claiming that sociological studies show that gay couples do not make good parents. She stated that Dobson's claim "is a direct misrepresentation of my research."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Steven K. |title=Gay rights group: Dobson manipulated research |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=2006-07-17 |url=http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/07/17/gay_rights_group_dobson_manipulated_data/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304194456/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/07/17/gay_rights_group_dobson_manipulated_data/?rss_id=Boston.com+%2F+News |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-03-04}}</ref> In response to Dobson's claim that "there have been more than ten thousand studies that have showed that children do best when they are raised with a mother and a father who are committed to each other,"{{Citation needed|date=July 2018}} Stacey replied that "[a]ll of those studies that Dobson is referring to are studies that did not include gay or lesbian parents as part of the research base."<ref>{{YouTube|gaCCe9XVSRo|Dr. Judith Stacey on James Dobson's Distortions}}</ref>

Dobson objected to a bill expanding the prohibition of [[sexual orientation]]-based discrimination in the areas of "public accommodation, housing practices, [[family planning]] services and twenty other areas." He said that, were such a bill passed, public businesses could no longer separate locker rooms and bathrooms by gender, which he claimed would lead to a situation where, "every woman and little girl will have to fear that a [[sexual predator|predator]], [[bisexual]], [[transvestite|cross-dresser]] or even a homosexual or heterosexual male might walk in and relieve himself in their presence."<ref name=dpost08>{{cite web |url=http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_9420864 |title=Anti-bias measure inked: Governor signs bill covering sexual orientation, religious beliefs |last=Ingold |first=John |work=[[The Denver Post]] |date=2008-05-30 |access-date=2008-06-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609234946/http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_9420864 |archive-date=2008-06-09 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=137923 |title=Controversial ad offends transgendered community |last=Welte |first=Rachel |date=May 22, 2008 |work=Colorado Connection |access-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708175530/http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=137923 |archive-date=July 8, 2011}}</ref>