01/05/2012

Washington– The Human Rights Campaign – the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization – is condemning the Weekly Standard for sending an email on behalf of one of their sponsors, the anti-gay organization “Public Advocate of the United States,” that called LGBT Americans “sexual deviants” and asked recipients to contribute financially to efforts aimed at defaming the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA).

The email said “radical homosexuals” were pushing SNDA as part of an attempt to “indoctrinate” children while creating a “new America based on sexual promiscuity.” It went on to call LGBT people “deviants.” View the email.

“It is alarming to see a political media outlet push this hateful rhetoric and act as a platform for the fundraising efforts of such an extremist group,” said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “Regardless of the alleged political bents of any news outlet, or any audiences, it is reprehensible and irresponsible for the Weekly Standard to partner with this fringe group. The Weekly Standard is now giving gravitas to outrageous lies about LGBT people. William Kristol should do the right thing – apologize and distance his publication from the hateful misinformation campaign of the so-called Public Advocate of the United States.”

According to the Weekly Standard’s website, the outlet has a circulation of over 60,000, and calls itself “the most quoted, clipped, and talked-about magazine in Washington and political circles.” The magazine’s sponsor, Public Advocate of the United States, says its mission is to, among other things, provide “vocal opposition to…the furtherance of so-called “Gay Rights,” and says hate crimes laws protecting LGBT people “singles out Christians or moral thinking people…for persecution.” Earlier this year, the organization gave its Family Advocate Award to Marcus Bachmann for his working in counseling “ex-gays.”

The email from the Public Advocate and Weekly Standard targets the Student Non-Discrimination Act. SNDA prohibits public schools from discriminating against any student on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.  The fundraising email calls SNDA the “Homosexual Classrooms Act” and says it is a means for equality advocates to advance “their entire perverted vision for a homosexual America.”

HRC is asking its members and supporters to email Weekly Standard editor William Kristol to condemn the harmful and false content of the fundraising email.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.