ADF Reveals Major Corporations Fail to Protect Free Speech

Tgsjmiller   -   May 25, 2023

May 25, 2023

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ADF Reveals Major Corporations Fail to Protect Free Speech

Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) released its Viewpoint Diversity Score Business Index showing how well major U.S. companies respect and protect free speech and religious liberty.

The index evaluates 75 major corporations on a scale of 0 to 100 across a wide range of performance indicators. ADF evaluated businesses “that have the greatest potential to impact individuals’ or institutions’ freedom of speech or religion.”

Only two of the 75 companies received a score of over 25, meaning the majority of major U.S. companies fail to respect free speech and religious liberty. As we know, this viewpoint discrimination often results in censorship and hostility toward conservative voices, especially those of Christians..

ADF concluded that “millions of everyday Americans are at risk of cancelation or punishment for their views.”

Among the companies that ranked the lowest were Adobe (1%), Airbnb (2%), Amazon.com (4%), Alphabet (Google) (4%), eBay (5%) and Microsoft (5%).

ADF determined the scores based on survey responses from the companies. Companies with “terms of use/service” that “avoid unclear or imprecise terms” and “avoid viewpoint discrimination” as well as “harmful conduct policies” that “apply equally” were awarded higher scores.

ADF also took into account the use of a “public anti-viewpoint discrimination policy,” “notice of content or service restrictions,” policies that promote “respect for diverse beliefs at work,” and religious discrimination.

“Threats to freedom don’t just come from the government, but from major corporations like financial institutions and big tech companies that have concentrated power over essential services and communication channels,” said ADF Senior Counsel and Senior Vice President for Corporate Engagement Jeremy Tedesco. “Too often, these corporations de-bank or de-platform Americans, citing policies that give them unbounded discretion to censor people for their views.”

Julaine Appling, president of WFA, notes, “Over the years, Wisconsin Family Council and Wisconsin Family Action have had newspapers, database vendors, truck rental companies, and a graphic artist all refuse to do business with us—all because of who we are and what we believe and promote. ADF has done us all a service by giving us advance notice of companies that could easily discriminate against Christians simply because of our beliefs and values. At least now, we can as individuals and as organizations make more informed decisions.”

Take the Family Policy Alliance Straw Poll!

November 2024 will be here before we know it, and the landscape for the election is starting to take shape. Yesterday,,Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) officially announced his candidacy for president, joining Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and others in the race. 

Our national partner, Family Policy Alliance, has launched a Social Conservative Straw Poll to see what social conservatives think about these early-announced candidates free of media bias. 

“By putting numbers behind social conservative viewpoints, we inform the nation about what social conservatives think; and we bring our voices to the forefront together,” says Family Policy Alliance of the poll.

Take the straw poll using the link HERE. Let your voice be heard!

University of Wisconsin (UW) System No Longer Requiring “Diversity Statements”

University of Wisconsin System president Jay Rothman announced before a state legislative committee last week that he is ending the use of diversity statements in hiring throughout the system, noting that the practice may be seen as a “litmus test.” 

Previously, new employees were required to commit to “diversity, equity and inclusion” in order to be hired. These buzzwords are typically used to denote leftist ideals, making this requirement a violation of academic freedom and First Amendment rights.

Rothman said, “And as a result [of this decision], some people may simply not apply. We have to be inclusive, and that means inclusive of everyone, including people with varying political ideologies and perspectives.”

Republican lawmakers, who have expressed interest in eliminating DEI programs, had threatened to cut state funding for the university system. 

“If they want to increase their funding, they have to show they can prioritize things to grow the economy, not grow the racial divide,” said state Rep. and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester).

Vos says this is a small step in the right direction, but that much more needs to be done to stop the blatant discrimination and indoctrination that takes place on UW campuses. He’s right, but this is a very important step. It’s too bad it took a financial threat to get to this point, but at least this disastrous, divisive policy is stopped.

Fertility Rates are Rapidly Declining 

According to the Federalist, the fertility rate in the U.S. decreased from 2.12 in 2007 to a dismal 1.64 in 2020. We need a fertility rate of at least 2.1 children per woman of child-bearing age in order to just replace the number of people we lose naturally. Wisconsin has been below replacement birth-rate since 1974.

To make matters worse, the Census Bureau reports that “the U.S. population grew by just 0.1% in the year ended July 1, 2021, the lowest rate since the founding of the nation.”

Further, in every Western country, the fertility rate is not high enough to sustain the population. It is estimated that by 2100, the fertility rate of almost every country will fall below 1.5 children per woman.

Our culture’s commitment to individualism, affluence, immediate gratification, marrying at older ages, and blurring the lines of gender, in addition to increased access to contraception and abortion, are likely all to blame.

Fertility rates and birth rates are incredibly important, as they reveal a lot about the health of a community, state, and nation. They often reflect a society’s view of marriage and family and are related to a state or nation’s ability to sustain a growing economy and a high standard of living.

It’s time to start re-prioritizing parenthood! We need men and women to recognize the value of marriage and of life and the lasting fulfillment that having children provides.

Contact Us if Your Children Experience Discrimination in School
Do you have children in Wisconsin’s public schools? Or do you know Christian families that have their children in these schools? Have your children been subjected to discrimination or punishment for refusing to use “correct pronouns” that other students want them to use? Have they experienced pressure to participate in “inclusive” activities that make them uncomfortable? If you or someone you know have children that have experienced these things or something similar in our public schools, please contact WFA/WFC president Julaine Appling at jkappling@wifamilyaction.org. We want to know. Serious help may be available.
New community event series: Religious Freedom Matters!
Read more about the Religious Freedom Matters! community event series by clicking HERE. Events around Wisconsin are coming soon!

LEAD WI
July 16th-21st, 2023
Maranatha Baptist University – Watertown, WI
Register here

IN THE MEDIA
WEEKLY RADIO COMMENTARY. “WISCONSIN FAMILY CONNECTION”
Airing this week on over 20 stations statewide. This week: “Memorial Day: Worthy of Reflection and Remembrance”

  • Click HERE to listen to this week’s Wisconsin Family Connection or read the complete radio commentary.
  • Subscribe to our podcasts HERE!

“WISCONSIN FAMILY MINUTE”
A daily program for Christian radio stations!

  • Listen on our website HERE
  • Click HERE to subscribe to your Wisconsin Family Minute podcasts and never miss an episode!
  • Find your local station to listen live HERE. If the Christian radio station you listen to isn’t carrying “Wisconsin Family Minute,” please encourage them to do so. Contact us at 866-849-2536 or info@wifamilycouncil.org. 

STAND UP FOR THE TRUTH – Q90FM
WFC President Julaine Appling was a guest last week (Thursday, May 18) on q90fm’s “Stand Up for the Truth” podcast, hosted by our friend David Fiorazo. You can listen to the podcast HERE. David, Mary (new co-host), and Julaine had a robust discussion on the issues of the day from a Christian perspective.

HOME FRONT/InFOCUS – VCY AMERICA
WFC President Julaine Appling hosts VCY America’s “Home Front” program every Wednesday afternoon (Sept.-May) at 3:15 p.m. On each program Julaine talks about important events happening in Wisconsin. Listen to yesterday’s show HERE. 
Click HERE to listen to archived Home Front programs. Yesterday’s Home Front program is the last for the season; the program will resume on Wednesday, September 11, 2023.

Julaine is also a monthly guest on VCY’s TV 30 live call-in program, “InFocus,” hosted by VCY America’s General Manager Jim Schneider. The program is on each Monday evening at 7 p.m., September through May. Julaine joined Jim on May 15, 2023. Watch online HERE. Archived “InFocus” programs are available HERE. This was the last “nFocus” program for the season. “InFocus” will begin a new season on Monday, September 11, 2023, when Julaine will again be Jim’s guest.