The Alliance Defending Freedom is a conservative Christian nonprofit legal organization that advocates for religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and marriage.
ADF was founded in 1993 by James Dobson, Alan Sears, and others to counter a perceived growing hostility toward the values it stands for.
It saw success in the Supreme Court case Masterpiece Cakeshop v Colorado Civil Rights Commission, in which they represented Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop. The Court ruled in favor of Phillips, ruling that he had a right to refuse service to Charlie Craig and David Mullins based on his religious beliefs against gay marriage.
It is known for strongly supporting religious freedom and opposition to civil rights laws. In the Masterpiece Cakeshop case, they argued that businesses should be allowed to refuse service to anyone based on their religious beliefs. James Dobson (founder of The Focus on the Family) early supported Alliance Defending Freedom.
2018, ADF represented Jack Phillips again in the Supreme Court case Masterpiece Cakeshop v Colorado Civil Rights Commission. Phillips is once again arguing that his religious beliefs allow him to discriminate against LGBTQ people by refusing them service based on his religious beliefs.
Alliance Defending Freedom has supported federal and state legislation bans same-sex marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.
In 2000, ADF filed suit against Denny Hastert to stop him from paying $1.6 million in hush money intended to silence one of his accusers as part of a lawsuit against him for molesting boys while he was a high school teacher.
Although it is a conservative Christian organization, Alliance Defending Freedom has represented anti-LGBTQ organizations like the Center for Arizona Policy and members of Catholic organizations. ADF also represents Muslim Izhar Khan in the challenge to New York City’s decision to fire him after he allegedly made negative comments about white people. See this channel on YouTube, for additional information.
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