Increasing attention is being paid south of the border to Tim Gill, considered to be the biggest gay donor in the U.S. His stealthy and out-of-the-box political strategies are said to be reshaping public policy on marriage, the family and gay rights. Having made millions as the founder of publishing giant Quark, Gill tries to target young, up-and-coming political conservatives and knock them out of the arena early to send a message of fear and intimidation to other conservatives.
In 2006, Gill and his allies spent $1.4 million to actually establish a bogus pro-life group – Coloradans for Life – and attempt to unseat a pro-life Colorado congresswoman. They almost succeeded.
U.S. pro-family leaders held what was described as a “productive” meeting with officials of the Marriott International hotel chain over its selling of in-room pornography at some of its 3,000 properties. The officials pledged to look into a system whereby customers would first have to call the front desk to access the pornography.
Citizens need to think twice before donating to door-to-door cancer research canvassers or in purchasing certain products. The Avon Foundation’s tax return reveals it has donated more than $3 million to the Massachusetts General Hospital, which conducts embryonic stem cell research. The Canadian Cancer Society also supports such research.
In one of the most implausible corporate unions, pornography producer Penthouse Media Group – whose other holdings include websites for swingers and bondage aficionados -has bought up the popular Christian online dating site BigChurch.com. Other Christian dating sites have been pointing out the dichotomy.
Habitat for Humanity of Sarasota facilitated Planned Parenthood’s opening of a new abortion site in Sarasota, Fla. by agreeing to purchase the abortion committer’s land for $10 and then building housing on a portion of it. A city zoning ordinance had prevented Planned Parenthood from obtaining an occupancy permit up to that point.
A spokesperson for the ALS Society of Ontario e-mailed concerned Canadian pro-lifers last May to clarify that “the ALS Society of Canada has not funded research using embryonic stem cells.” He said the society has funded research from muscle-derived stem cells and other research that does not use stem cells at all.
Disney’s Orlando Magic Kingdom held its annual “gay day” celebration on June 7. The Florida Family Association said thousands of homosexuals, lesbians and trans-sexuals converged on the site among tens of thousands of children and their parents who may not have known ahead of time what was going to happen that day.
Shareholders of the Exxon Mobil Corp. voted to give all of the company’s employees the same rights when, for the ninth time, they declined to provide special rights based on “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.” They also declined to provide benefits for same-sex partners. Pro-family activists said Exxon Mobil needs to be commended for its stand.
Pepsi and Starbucks were among the sponsors of Gay Pride Week 2008 in Boston, Mass. in June. The week included a “Dyke March” that featured shirtless trans-sexual women who had their breasts removed and a homosexual mockery of the Catholic faith at a Borders bookstore.
With Halloween upon us once again, citizens are being reminded of UNICEF’s support for abortion “rights” in the world. The latest report by that agency references “reproductive health targets” under millennium development goals. These targets include “universal access to ‘reproductive health’ by 2015.”
Gay rights activists were up in arms after the Heinz food company pulled a television advertisement for mayonnaise that depicted two men kissing. “We’re shocked that an innocuous ad should have been withdrawn in this way,” bellowed a spokesperson for the gay rights group Stonewall.
A Wal-Mart store in Richland, Wash. cancelled an event at which Planned Parenthood was to pass out “information,” after protests led by the pro-life chairman for the state Knights of Columbus. The store had received hundreds of calls and e-mails opposing the prospective event.
Although the California Supreme Court legalized it in May, the battle over same-sex “marriage” in the state continues. Supporters of Proposition 8, a ballot initiative to ban such “marriage” in the state, are donating large sums of money. A flashpoint has been San Diego hotel owner Doug Manchester, a Catholic who has donated $125,000 to the effort.
Mobile phone provider Virgin has solicited young people to strip in front of a camera, post the resulting videos to a website and thereby support homeless relief charities. The company said it would donate one article of clothing for every five viewers who posted a strip video to the website. Virgin also boasts of a “Sin 2 Win” contest. “All you sinners can get your worst (and most entertaining) sins off your chest,” says its website. “Why carry around all that emotional baggage when you could just as easily share it … and have the chance to win $666!”