Family Research Council Outraged Over Amtrak Ads to Gay Traveler Market

I have written a number of times that marketing to the LGBT community makes good business sense if one is in business to make money. That approach is especially true in the travel market where during the ongoing recession LGBT travel expenditures increased even as all other market segments decreased. Given that reality, one would think that those who want quasi-government entities like Amtrak to market to population segments that can help the organization meet that goal. Indeed, such common sense might even reduce the need for taxpayer subsidies. In fact, one would think that this would make the anti-tax Christianists happy. But such is not the case. The Family Research Council ("FRC") - which misses no opportunity to denigrate and malign LGBT citizens - has its panties in a total knot over Amtrak's expenditure of $250,000 to encourage gays to use Amtrak. FRC bigot in chief, Tony Perkins is pictured above. Here is part of FRC's screed, I mean "action alert" to its members:
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If there was ever proof that the Obama Administration has gone off the rails, it's Amtrak. For the first time in the train service's history, Amtrak has decided to spend a quarter-million dollars recruiting homosexual passengers. As you may know, Amtrak isn't a private business. This is a government-run business, meaning that this $250,000 is taken directly from taxpayers' pockets. In a very real sense, this ad campaign is a federal endorsement of homosexual behavior -- one of the most serious public health threats in America.or call (202) 906-3000 to reach Amtrak headquarters in Washington, DC. Using taxpayer funds to promote this ad campaign is insulting to the millions of Americans who have deeply-held moral convictions against homosexuality.
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Please contact senior officials at Amtrak and ask them to stop this campaign using your tax dollars!
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We in the LGBT community need to counter this bullshit and contact the folks at Amtrak and thank them for(1) their common sense and (2) their willingness to reach out to all Americans. Contact information is here. You can also call 800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) or call (202) 906-3000 to reach Amtrak headquarters in Washington, DC..