The Eagle Forum is a national conservative organization that promotes grassroots involvement in policymaking. Phyllis Schlafly (1924-) founded the Eagle Forum in 1972 and continues to serve as its president. The organization was formed to defeat legislation called the Equal Rights Amendment, primarily because Schlafly believed that it would result in tax-funded abortions and same-sex marriage. After a 10-year battle, Schlafly and her followers succeeded in blocking the amendment's ratification, and the organization gained prominence as a political force to mobilize the Christian Right. At this time, the Eagle Forum reports that it has 80,000 members in 45 branches. It has offices on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., and in Alton, Illinois.

Born to a Catholic family in St. Louis, Missouri, Schlafly earned a master's degree ...