1. “This is my problem with liberals. Here’s where my fear goes. You guys want to tell parents what they...
National Organization for Marriage chief Brian Brown is many things, but “poor” is not one of them. A report released today by Rights Equal Rights details NOM's 2011 501(c)3 tax return and its annual expenses.
Shocker, the return shows Brown hauled in $230,000 from NOM's political operation. Brown also cashed in on more than $240,000 from NOM's “educational fund” and received almost $50,000 in benefits for a grand total of right around $500,000.
Who knew being a bigot could be so profitable?
Rights Equal Rights was founded by LGBT activist and former Republican presidential candidate Fred Karger. Karger and members of his staff attempted to visit NOM's Washington, D.C., offices last week to secure a copy of the 990 form.
Lower taxes, more personal freedom and less government interference in the lives of Americans are the core principles of the Republican Party. At least, that’s what the GOP says. According to critics, including many LGBT people, what it does once in power is actually very different.
The anti-gay charge in recent years has been led by conservative groups, often with religious ties, like the National Organization for Marriage, the Family Research Council and Focus on the Family. These groups overwhelmingly support GOP candidates in local and national elections.
Republicans know a large portion of their base view homosexuality as inherently sinful. They also know to get elected, they have to sell their conservatism as well as their religious credentials.
“I’m a moderate Republican, I have the best jobs plan, I’m pro-choice, support gay marriage and I want us out of Afghanistan now. If you’re not excited about Mitt Romney or the direction of the Republican Party, then I ask you to vote for me.”
— Openly gay Republican presidential hopeful Fred Karger, who won 0.1 percent of the primary vote in Maryland, in his new “Sexy Frisbee” campaign video that intersperses his remarks with beach scenes of shirtless men and bikini-clad women, plus two guys kissing at the end. (Pink News, April 24)
“There’s so much work to do. If 80 percent of what I talk about is gay issues — I didn’t come out to shut up. I came out to talk.”
Gay politico and activist Fred Karger filed papers March 23 with the Federal Elections Commission making him the first official candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.
“I am also the first openly gay person, in a major political party, to ever run for president of the United States,” Karger noted in a statement on his campaign website.
Karger said in the statement that he plans to discuss a variety of issues during his campaign, but also stressed the historic nature of his long-shot bid.
“I dedicate today to the six teenagers who took their lives this past fall because they were bullied for who they were. … I want to send a loud and clear message to anyone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer, that you can do anything you want to do in this country,” he said. “You can even run for president of the United States.”