Key Facts
Key Information
About
People for the American Way (PFAW) is a progressive advocacy organization in the United States founded in 1980 by television producer Norman Lear in response to the rise of the Moral Majority and other conservative Christian groups. It was officially registered as a 501(c)(4) non-profit in 1981. The organization was created to counter the religious right and focuses on promoting civil liberties, defending the separation of church and state, and opposing conservative judicial nominees. PFAW engages in lobbying, public education campaigns, legal advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and operates a political action committee (PAC) to support aligned candidates. Its activities include monitoring voting rights, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, environmental protections, publishing reports on media diversity and money in politics, and participating in high-profile efforts to block Supreme Court nominations perceived as ideologically extreme. The organization has grown into a key player in progressive networks with Washington, D.C.-based operations and national reach, though it faces criticism from conservative groups for its partisan stances.