Last year, the Mississippi-based American Family Association (AFA) reported a net worth of $32 million, most of which it raised by its relentless message of hatred for gay people.

It’s way too soon to surmise that professional homophobia is losing its financial luster but it is interesting to note that in a recent fundraising email, AFA has turned its sights on a burger chain’s use of sexy women in television ads. The AFA fundraiser says:

CKE Restaurants, Inc. (Hardees/Carl’s Jr.) is hitting new lows in their latest round of television commercials. After offending families with Paris Hilton and Hugh Hefner-driven ads over the past few years, the hamburger chain is taking its history of sleaze marketing to a new level.

One of the latest ads, now on national television, depicts a sexualized female teacher in a high school classroom doing a stripper-style dance on top of her desk, while male students do a rap song about her “flat buns.” [Video above left. - Ed.] (Warning: This ad is offensive and provided only for the purpose of educating our members).

In another ad, a scantly-clad woman gyrates to a countdown of things she wants a man to do to her. All the time, she is eating a “patty melt” sandwich. [Video above right. - Ed.] (Warning: This ad is offensive and provided only for the purpose of educating our members).

Yeah, right! The AFA would never dream of using sexy videos on the internet to raise money. Sending around salacious material like that might offend its members — or about half of the men, at least:

A new survey shows that five of ten Christian men in the U.S. — and two of ten Christian women — are addicted to pornography. The survey was conducted by ChristiaNet.com, an online Christian Internet community.

The AFA email concludes with its money shot:

Thanks for caring enough to get involved. If you find our efforts worthy, would you consider making a donation to help us continue?

Sincerely,
Don

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder & Chairman
American Family Association

P.S. Please forward this e-mail message to your family and friends!

It’s easy to dismiss AFA’s actions as silly prudery but even well-funded enterprises like AFA and its competitors in the homophobia industry, which collectively gross over $400 million annually tax free, do not need expensive marketing research to know what any kid in Marketing 101 can tell you: Sex sells.

The bottom line leads to a cynical conclusion: Sending out a fundraising email with links to sexy videos may well be a win-win for both AFA and the fast-food joints. AFA could raise thousands or more in tax-free dollars, and the restaurants will get tons of free publicity among a key customer base: sexually repressed Christian carnivores.