Focus on the Family
Chairman Stepping Down

Focus on the Family chairman James Dobson has announced that he will be stepping down from his position but will remain involved in the organization through his radio program and monthly newsletter. According to the Associated Press, the 72-year-old evangelical Christian leader began the process of stepping down six years ago when he gave up his title of president and CEO.

Dobson stated in a release, "One of the common errors of founder-presidents is to hold to the reins of leadership too long, thereby preventing the next generation from being prepared for executive authority. Though letting go is difficult after three decades of intensive labor, it is the wise thing to do."

In his years as leader of Focus on the Family, Dobson was extremely vocal about his antigay stance on many issues, including marriage equality and adoption. When Proposition 8 passed in California in November, he called the outcome "a victory that could shape millions of lives for generations to come."

Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation president Neil Guiliano released a statement in response to Dobson's resignation, stating, "For more than 20 years, James Dobson has used his expansive, well-funded media platform to promote defamatory and false information about the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. As Dobson resigns from his role as chairman, it is important to remember his history of false and defamatory claims about our community. GLAAD urges the media to not allow Dobson to turn today's news into yet another media platform for him to advance his intolerant, divisive attacks on gay and lesbian Americans and their families."

Dobson has announced that regardless of his official position with the organization, he will continue to speak out on what he terms moral issues. Retired Air Force lieutenant general Patrick P. Caruana, who has been active with Focus on the Family's board for several years, has been named as Dobson's replacement.