AFA on 10-Year-Old Pride Grand Marshal: Child Abuse

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

Read Full Bio

Neal Broverman

June 23 2010 5:10 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

Nbroverman

We need your help
Your support makes The Advocate's original LGBTQ+ reporting possible. Become a member today to help us continue this work.

The American Family Association believes that 10-year-old Will Phillips's participation in the Northwest Arkansas pride parade in Fayetteville is tantamount to child abuse.

"It's shameful that adults would abuse a brain-washed child in this way," AFA president Tim Wildmon writes in a press release. "He's obviously just parroting the nonsense he's been told by manipulative adults. For gay activists to trot out this child and make him the poster child for promoting unnatural sexual expression is a form of child abuse."

Wildmon then uses the Food and Drug Administration's ban on gay blood donors as justification for discouraging acceptance of gays. "There is nothing about homosexual conduct to be proud of, and much to be ashamed of," Wildmon writes.

Phillips has refused to say the Pledge of Allegiance as a protest against antigay discrimination. He will serve as grand marshal of the parade on Saturday.