Anti-Gay Ad on DC Metro Buses

The anti-gay hate merchants have now moved into Washington, D.C., in an effort to either prompt Congress to override the Washington, D.C., city council's vote to provide for same sex marriage or put gay civil rights up to vote by the electorate. Were the targets of such efforts blacks or Jews, we all know that the effort would gain no traction. Moreover, there is no way in Hell that the DC Metro buses would be carrying ads pushing for a public vote to take away black or Jewish civil rights. Perhaps it is merely because I am currently reading "The Family," but I find it more than a little bit troublesome that PUBLIC transit buses are carrying religious based discriminatory ads. Yes, the jackasses and haters are free to say whatever vile filth about gays they want, but PUBLIC vehicles should not be carrying that message. Here are some highlights from MetroWeekly on this travesty:
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The ad carries the website of StandForMarriageDC, a religiously motivated, anti-gay group that seeks to roll back the District's gay marriage law by forcing a voter referendum on the issue. The group's leaders have been continually denied by the DC Board of Elections and Ethics, the DC Attorney General, and the DC City Council on the grounds that such a referendum directly conflicts with the City's human rights ordinances.
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Councilman David Catania noted during a November hearing that the last Advisory Referendum that sought to "diminish the rights of a minority" was in 1865 when a near-unanimous vote opted to block the emerging rights of freed African-American males to vote in the District.
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I hate to say it, but my contempt for professional Christians - especially those who make a plush living peddling hate - is growing daily.

Stand for Marriage Maine Under Ethics Investigation

Once again the self-anointed Christians and opponents of same sex marriage - like maggie Gallagher (pictured at left) who is making a nice living promoting homophobia - seem to be demonstrating that they care nothing for the truth or compliance with election laws and requirements for reporting the source of donations. These "godly Christians" want to "protect marriage" but lack the courage of their convictions - thus they bundle contributions and submit them through front organizations so that anti-gay bigots can remain anonymous. In my opinion, this situation is part and parcel of the constant lies and false information knowingly disseminated by the professional Christians and "family values" organizations which deem themselves exempt from the Commandment against lying and civil law requirements that aim to keep political donors honest by revealing all but the smallest of contributions. Dirigo Blue has highlights on this latest Christianist hypocrisy:

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A California-based gay rights group has filed a complaint with Maine's campaign oversight agency against groups pushing for a people's veto vote in November on Maine's new gay marriage law. Californians Against Hate founder Fred Karger filed a complaint with the ethics commission asking for an investigation into what he alleges is illegal fundraising reporting. Karger says the groups are contributing to the Stand for Marriage campaign without reporting the names of their donors.

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Mr. Karger points to a few factual circumstances which could be relevant to whether a violation has occurred: NOM is a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt organization that is roughly two years old. Based on the information that is presently available to the Commission staff, it appears that NOM has contributed at least $250,000 to the Stand for Marriage Maine PAC. This is a large amount of funding, which could suggest that NOM solicited and received funds for the purpose of initiating the referendum.

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As Mr. Karger has noted, the March 2009 solicitations from NOM promise its donors anonymity: "[P]lease make the most generous donation you can to help us keep these important ads on the air. Use this hyperlink to make a secure online donation. And unlike in California, every dollar you give to NOM's Northeast Action Plan today is private, with no risk of harassment from gay marriage protestors."

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All PACs are required to report the names and addresses of contributors who have given more than $50 to the PAC. (21-A M.R.S.A. § 1060(6)) In addition, under 21-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1004(3) and 1004-A(3), it is illegal for a PAC to knowingly accept a contribution made by one person in the name of another person.

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Mr. Karger alleges that "the four funders of Stand for Marriage Maine are merely conduits for those wishing to hide their contributions. These entities are laundering money to evade the disclosure of the actual contributors to Stand for Marriage Maine." (Aug. 24, 2009 letter, at 1) If true, these allegations might constitute violations of 21-A M.R.S.A. § 1060(6), 1004(3) and 1004-A(3).
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It must be nice to be a "godly Christian" exempt from prohibitions against lying and compliance with campaign contribution laws. Again I ask the question of why these alleged Christians always act in the most un-Christian ways with no regard for the truth?