The Center for Family and Human Rights, known as C-Fam, is a fierce and active opponent to LGBTQ rights and has considerable international influence, particularly in the United Nations. C-Fam is known for virulent opposition and explosive rhetoric directed toward members of the LGBTQ community and their allies, whom they refer to as “sexual revolutionaries.” C-Fam was one of the loudest critics at the Human Rights Council when the UN narrowly voted to dedicate a special rapporteur to investigate discrimination against LGBTQ people, an initiative that developed in 2016 in response to anti-gay gang violence in Russia, the murder of gays by ISIS, the massacre that took place at an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and countless other violent attacks against LGBTQ people.
C-Fam President Austin Ruse claims that homosexuality is “harmful to public health and morals,” “an act of grave depravity,” and a psychological issue that “remains largely unexplained.” He has also spoken in support of making “homosexual behavior” illegal, saying it would “help society to teach what is good, and also would prevent such truly harmful practices as homosexual marriage and adoption.” Although C-Fam is based in New York and Washington D.C., its better known outside the U.S., as it seeks to influence international law and the social policy debate at the UN and other international institutions.