Support for gay rights Foxman's support for
gay rights in America has placed him at odds with many
Orthodox Jews. For example, he protested the 2000 ruling by the
Supreme Court in
Boy Scouts of America v. Dale—a case in which "the Supreme Court ruled that the
Boy Scouts of America could exclude a gay scoutmaster because of his sexual orientation." It was reported that, "Within the Jewish community, Orthodox groups supported the ruling, saying civic organizations should be empowered to determine their own message - but most Jewish organizations condemned it as endorsing discrimination." According to a report published a year later, "the Anti-Defamation League's national director, Abraham Foxman, and its national chairman, Howard Berkowitz, said in a statement at the time: 'We are stunned that in the year 2000, the Supreme Court could issue such a decision. ... This decision effectively states that as long as an organization avows an anti-homosexual position, it is free to discriminate against gay and lesbian Americans.'"
Criticism of Mel Gibson Foxman has received criticism from Jewish and non-Jewish quarters for his antagonist approach to the 2004 film
The Passion of the Christ and its director,
Mel Gibson. In September 2003, during the pre-release controversy, Foxman called Gibson "the portrait of an
anti-Semite". The next day he said, "I'm not ready to say he's an anti-Semite", but that Gibson "entertains views that can only be described as anti-Semitic". In November 2003, Foxman said of Gibson, "I think he's infected, seriously infected, with some very, very serious anti-Semitic views." In a letter to the
National Review published in the March 8, 2004 issue, Foxman compared the film to the
Nazi-supported 1934
Oberammergau Passion Play, concerning that "the film could legitimize anti-Semitism through its depiction of Jews." Foxman was also criticized for his initial response to Gibson's apology for his behavior during his
2006 DUI arrest, and for giving second billing to the
Seattle Jewish Federation shooting that occurred on the same day. Foxman accepted Gibson's
second apology, although he continued to censure Gibson publicly, saying in 2008, "In his heyday, he was No. 1 in
Hollywood, the most sought-after star, the people's choice, the icon. Then he revealed himself as an
anti-Semite, and look where he is today. That's the beauty of America." Foxman continued to condemn Gibson for
The Passion of the Christ, saying in 2008, "What he was doing was giving credibility, on film, in our lifetime, to
deicide. Where is Mel Gibson today? He did his movie, and one day, he revealed himself to the American people. He's no icon anymore."
Opposition to congressional resolution recognizing the Armenian genocide In July 2007, Foxman opposed a congressional resolution recognizing the
Armenian genocide. "I don't think congressional action will help reconcile the issue. The resolution takes a position; it comes to a judgement", said Foxman in a statement issued to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "The
Turks and
Armenians need to revisit their past. The Jewish community shouldn't be the arbiter of that history, nor should the
U.S. Congress." Sharistan Melkonian, chairwoman of the
Armenian National Committee of Eastern Massachusetts, accused Foxman of engaging in "genocide denial" in an interview with
The Boston Globe. Various
New England communities threatened to sever ties with the ADL-sponsored "No Place for Hate" program in response. In August 2007, Foxman publicly affirmed the position of the Anti-Defamation League, "that the consequences of [the Ottoman government's] actions were indeed tantamount to genocide", but that a United States Congressional recognition of this history was unnecessary, and not helpful. He went on to state, "We continue to firmly believe that a Congressional Resolution on such matters is a counterproductive diversion and will not foster reconciliation between Turks and Armenians. We will not hesitate to apply the term 'genocide' in the future." Foxman additionally sent a letter to Turkish Prime Minister
Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressing regret over the difficulty his position caused for the government of Turkey: "We had no intention to put the Turkish people or its leaders in a difficult position."
Opposition to Park51 Foxman opposed the
Park51 Islamic community center near the
World Trade Center site.
Fareed Zakaria, a recipient of ADL's Hubert H. Humphrey First Amendment Freedoms Prize, returned the prize and its $10,000 honorarium, saying that he "cannot in good conscience hold onto the award or the honorarium that came with it". Zakaria has "urged the ADL to reverse its decision".
Simone Zimmerman Foxman called for the firing of
anti-Zionist activist Simone Zimmerman, subject of the 2023 film
Israelism and the then-Jewish outreach coordinator for the
Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign. She was only in the position for 30 hours and was terminated due to making what some considered inflammatory remarks about
Benjamin Netanyahu and
Hillary Clinton on social media. Foxman and
Malcolm Hoenlein had called for her firing before it was revealed the remarks had been made. ==Books==