Fred Karger on Fox Business News

Host Stuart Varney asked tough questions, but Fred got his points across. It's up for viewing thanks to Craig Feigener at Instant Pride: http://www.instantpride.com/422/2008/12/24/

Eqyallity on Campus Day

Press Release for Immediate Release
Contact Eric Ross
619-850-3742
eross@studentsforequality.com
http://www.studentsforequality.com/

EQUALITY ON CAMPUS DAY!
STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY JOIN TOGETHER IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT TOWARDS LGBT EQUALITY.

On January 27th, 2009, high school and college students across the country will wear the same shirt to school as a way to show unity within the community in the fight towards LGBT equality, particularly marriage equality. This is a visibility/fundraiser event geared towards achieving the following goals:

· Get students more involved in the fight towards LGBT equality.
· Raise the visibility of the LGBT movement towards equality by having everyone wear the same shirt on the same day. Students are encouraged to take group photos of everyone at their school wearing the Students for Equality t-shirt. Locations and time suggestions for group photos should be emailed to Eric Ross at eross@studentsforequality.com for better coordination. Students for Equality is encouraging students to submit the group pictures to their school yearbooks and newspapers.
· Have the event one week after the inauguration to remind Obama that we are not going away. We are expecting him to address same-sex marriage, and LGBT rights in general.
· Raise money towards fighting for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the courts. Students for Equality will be donating a portion of the proceeds to Lambda Legal since they are currently fighting the state of California to repeal Proposition 8. Lambda Legal has also fought for LGBT equality in many other cases, including overturning sodomy laws in the United States on a federal level. To see more landmark cases fought by Lambda Legal, go to http://www.lambdalegal.org/our-work/in-court/cases/landmark-cases.html.

"The younger generation was very involved in the election this year," says Eric Ross co-founder of Students for Equality. "This event is a way for them to stay involved in political activism, and not just unite in the fight for marriage equality, but for LGBT equality as a whole."

The shirt design will be announced on January 1st, 2009 and worn by students across the country on January 27th. Designs were submitted by students, and are currently being voted on by visitors of the Students for Equality website. People wishing to vote on the shirt design can do so by going tohttp://www.studentsforequality.com/. People can also go to the same website to find out information about future events sponsored by Students for Equality.
STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY JOIN TOGETHER IN THE HUMAN RIGHTS MOVEMENT TOWARDS LGBT EQUALITY.

On January 27th, 2009, high school and college students across the country will wear the same shirt to school as a way to show unity within the community in the fight towards LGBT equality, particularly marriage equality. This is a visibility/fundraiser event geared towards achieving the following goals:

· Get students more involved in the fight towards LGBT equality.
· Raise the visibility of the LGBT movement towards equality by having everyone wear the same shirt on the same day. Students are encouraged to take group photos of everyone at their school wearing the Students for Equality t-shirt. Locations and time suggestions for group photos should be emailed to Eric Ross at eross@studentsforequality.com for better coordination. Students for Equality is encouraging students to submit the group pictures to their school yearbooks and newspapers.
· Have the event one week after the inauguration to remind Obama that we are not going away. We are expecting him to address same-sex marriage, and LGBT rights in general.
· Raise money towards fighting for the legalization of same-sex marriage in the courts. Students for Equality will be donating a portion of the proceeds to Lambda Legal since they are currently fighting the state of California to repeal Proposition 8. Lambda Legal has also fought for LGBT equality in many other cases, including overturning sodomy laws in the United States on a federal level. To see more landmark cases fought by Lambda Legal, go to http://www.lambdalegal.org/our-work/in-court/cases/landmark-cases.html.

"The younger generation was very involved in the election this year," says Eric Ross co-founder of Students for Equality. "This event is a way for them to stay involved in political activism, and not just unite in the fight for marriage equality, but for LGBT equality as a whole."

The shirt design will be announced on January 1st, 2009 and worn by students across the country on January 27th. Designs were submitted by students, and are currently being voted on by visitors of the Students for Equality website. People wishing to vote on the shirt design can do so by going towww.studentsforequality.com. People can also go to the same website to find out information about future events sponsored by Students for Equality.

News, News, News About Californians Against Hate

CAH – News Coverage #18

USA Today -- http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-12-21-blacklist_N.htm

Los Angeles Times -- http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lopez14-2008dec14,0,5995847.column

San Diego Union-Tribune -- http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20081207-9999-1m7b2briefs.html

San Diego Union-Tribune -- http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20081209-9999-1m9prop8.html

Colorado Independent -- http://coloradoindependent.com/17183/day-without-a-gay-action-to-highlight-economic-human-contributions

Huffington Post -- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fred-karger/dump-rick-warren---letter_b_152601.html

Manchester’s Goings On -- http://blogs.kaixo.com/cityofmanchesterstadium/2008/12/07/marchers-protest-ban-on-same-sex-marriage
On Top Magazine -- http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=2845&MediaType=1&Category=26

San Diego News Service -- http://sandiegonewsservice.com/?p=164
Two Down 48 to Go -- http://twodown48togo.wordpress.com

Beliefnet -- http://blog.beliefnet.com/lynnvsekulow/2008/12/transparency-needed-in-proposi.html

Southwest LGBT Press -- http://nhcv.blogspot.com/2008/12/fighting-mad-fight-back.html
Zenger’s Newsmagazine -- http://zengersmag.blogspot.com/2008/12/no-on-8-actions-discussions-continue.html

Kevin Hunter -- http://kevinhuntersblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/a-1-self-storage

Alamo City Pundit -- http://jdlong.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/gays-yelling-stop-the-hate-hound-woman-and-destroy-business-how-is-this-not-a-hate-crime

GYNite Hotsheet -- http://hotsheet.gynite.com/?p=136

Casper Chronicles -- http://lynncasper.wordpress.com/2008/12/16/californians-against-hate-who-were-the-top-12-contributors-for-prop-8

Protect All Marriage -- http://protectallmarriage.blogspot.com/2008/12/why-i-voted-for-obama.html

Protect All Marriage -- http://protectallmarriage.blogspot.com/2008/12/send-email-to-obama-to-dump-rev-rick.html

Guy Dads -- http://guydads.blogspot.com/2008/12/anti-gay-companies.html

SheWired -- http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm?ID=21012

Sirius Radio -- http://www.signorile.com/2008/12/on-todays-show_17.html

NewsBlaze -- http://newsblaze.com/story/20081219172505zzzz.nb/topstory.html
KingFisher Column -- http://kingfishercolumn.blogspot.com/2008/12/prop-8-blacklist-fred-karger-legacy.html

Equal Marriage Now -- http://www.equalmarriagenow.com/2008/12/action-steps-news-boycott-of-manchester-grand-hyatt-effective

DebbieSchussel.com -- http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2008/12/hell_hath_no_fu.html

TellTheWholeWorld.org -- http://tellthewholeworld.org/fred-karger-dump-rick-warren-letter-to-president-elect-obama

Twitter -- http://twitter.com/huffingtonpost/status/1072529290

OpEdNews -- http://www.opednews.com/articles/Don-t-Tell-Me-to-Chill-Out-by-Kevin-Gosztola-081223-427.html

Instant Pride -- http://www.instantpride.com/prop-8-supporter-boycott/2008/12/23

Equality Update -- https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&send_id=637095074&email=c64c011e05d78c06e8557d6caea7cd51

Dump Rick Warren Update from Equality Network

Biden, Etheridge Talk Rick Warren as Calls to Dump Him Continue ...There are groups, like Californians Against Hate, who call for Obama to dump Warren, and have started a Facebook group and website, DumpRickWarren.com, urging the President-Elect to disinvite the anti-gay pastor from the inaugural ...Equality Network - http://www.equalitynetwork.org/

Op Ed On Rick Warren by Katha Pollitt

Rick Warren is an insulting choice

Preacher Rick Warren's views are simply too extreme for Obama's supporters.
By Katha Pollitt December 22, 2008

To understand how angry and disappointed many Democrats are that Barack Obama has invited evangelical preacher Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inaugural, imagine if a President-elect John McCain had offered this unique honor to the Rev. Al Sharpton -- or the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. I know, it's hard to picture: John McCain would never do that in a million years. Republicans respect their base even when, as in McCain's case, it doesn't really return the favor.

Only Democrats, it seems, reward their most loyal supporters -- feminists, gays, liberals, opponents of the war, members of the reality-based community -- by elbowing them aside to embrace their opponents instead.

Most Americans who've heard of Warren know him as the teddy-bearish, Hawaiian-shirted head of the Saddleback megachurch in Orange County and the author of "The Purpose Driven Life." Perhaps they also know he's the rare right-wing Christian pastor who sometimes talks about poverty and global warming and HIV. His concern for those issues has given him a reputation as a moderate and has made him the darling of Democratic Party think tanks, ever hoping to break the Republican lock on the white evangelical vote.But on the signal issues of the religious right he is, as he himself has said, as orthodox as James Dobson.

And as inflammatory. Warren doesn't just oppose gay marriage, he's compared it to incest and pedophilia. He doesn't just want to ban abortion, he's compared women who terminate pregnancies to Nazis and the pro-choice position to Holocaust denial. (Hmmm ... If a fertilized egg is as precious as a born Jewish human being, does that mean a born Jewish human being is only as valuable as a fertilized egg?)

Speaking of Jews, Warren has publicly stated his belief that they will burn in hell, presumably along with everyone else who hasn't accepted his particular brand of Christianity (i.e., the vast majority of people in the world). And forget about evolution -- the existence of homosexuals, he's argued, disproves Darwin. And while we may not know how old the Earth is, the Saddleback website assures us that dinosaurs and humans coexisted.

Warren claims that his views are mainstream, pointing out that in 30 states, the majority of voters have banned gay marriage. Popular doesn't mean right, of course, but regardless of what Americans think about gay marriage, on other so-called social issues, he's way out in far-right field.

Take abortion. Most Americans, whatever their personal feelings, are pro-choice. On election day, anti-choice initiatives went down to defeat in all three states where they were on the ballot. Most Americans do not think the one-third of American women who terminate a pregnancy are running a concentration camp in their wombs, and would have no trouble choosing between saving a Jew from a gas chamber and a fertilized egg from a fire at the clinic.

Or take marriage. At his Saddleback Church, wifely submission is official doctrine: The church website tells women to defer to their husband's "leadership" even when he's wrong on important issues, such as finances. Never mind if she's an accountant and he flunked long division, or if she wants to beef up the kids' college fund and he wants to buy shares in the Brooklyn Bridge. The godly answer is supposed to be "yes, dear." Is elevating this male chauvinist how President-elect Obama thanks women, who gave him more than half his votes?

Or take foreign policy. In electing Obama, Americans overwhelmingly rejected President Bush's Wild West approach to foreign policy. Apparently Warren didn't get that memo either. Unlike many evangelical preachers, he issued a statement against torture, but despite his access to Bush, he told Beliefnet.com that he never raised the subject of torture with him. ("I just didn't have the opportunity," he said -- although he apparently found plenty of time to lecture Obama about abortion.)

On "Hannity & Colmes," he agreed that the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, should be killed because "the Bible says God puts government on Earth to punish evildoers." Really? The Bible says the United States should murder the leaders of other sovereign states? How many other heads of state does Warren want to do away with? If Ahmadinejad, who is, after all, a more-or-less democratically elected leader, had shared his inauguration with an imam who had called on national television for the assassination of President Bush, Americans would be calling for the nuking of Tehran.

In a news conference Thursday, Obama defended the choice of Warren: "It is important for the country to come together even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues." That's all very well, but excuse me if I don't feel all warm and fuzzy. Obama won thanks to the strenuous efforts of people who've spent the last eight years appalled by the Bush administration's wars and violations of human rights, its attacks on gays and women, its denigration of science, its general pandering to bigotry and ignorance in the name of God.

I'm all for building bridges, but honoring Warren, who insults Obama's base as perverts and murderers, is definitely a bridge too far.

NEWS UPDATE

Californians Against Hate joined a chorus of LGBT leaders in asking President-elect Obama to “Dump Rick Warren” from conducting the invocation at his Inauguration. We have set up a web site www.dumprickwarren.com which has been very busy. And check out our facebook group headed up by Organizer Shane Miller: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=40350873862

Please visit these sites and forward the links to all your friends. Time is short, and although Rick Warren is the best at stating our case against his appearance in Washington, DC on January 20th, we don’t have much time to get him off the platform. He really stuck his big foot in his mouth last week on Dateline with Ann Curry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS1_aNqFrEI Doubt we’ll be seeing much more of Rick Warren on TV during the next month.

Reverend Warren is simply the wrong choice for such a prominent role in the Swearing-in. He is a crude, mean-spirited man. Just last week he compared being gay to incest, pedophilia and in an odd reference to his new Mormon allies on the Yes on Prop 8 campaign, polygamy. Not the guy fair minded Americans want to see leading the country in prayer at this historic Inauguration.

To view the letter that we sent to President-elect Obama, go to either our web site or our facebook group. And if you want to weigh in on this important campaign, we have links on facebook to email the President-elect and the members of Congress who are organizing the Swearing-in. Thank you for your help on this!

Fred Karger to Appear on FOX Business Network
Tuesday, December 23rd

The subject is Boycotting businesses that contributed to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign, and Stuart Varney will interview the Californians Against Hate Founder tomorrow at 1:40 pm (EST) 10:40 am (PST).

We have called for 3 boycotts beginning on July 18th in San Diego against Doug Manchester’s Hotels http://www.boycottmanchesterhotels.com This was because of owner Doug Manchester’s $125,000 contribution to Yes on 8. Manchester owns the Manchester Grand Hyatt and the Grand del Mar hotels, both in San Diego. The Hyatt’s Director of Marketing recently stated that the boycott has cost the hotel $2.4 million in lost bookings.

Our 2nd boycott against Bolthouse Farms was called in early September because of founder William Bolthouse’s $100,000 contribution to Yes on 8. The boycott was settled 3 weeks later when the company agreed to drastically change its corporate policies for its gay and lesbian employees, and gave $110,000 to several LGBT organizations.

Our 3rd boycott was called just a month ago against Terry Caster and his A-1 Self Storage Company http://boycotta-1selfstorage.com A-1 has 30 locations all over California. Terry Caster gave $693,000 to Yes on Prop 8 – the 2nd highest individual California contributor. He gave $400,000 of that just 5 days before the election. If you haven’t listened to Terry Caster explain that he is not homophobic, call this number 619-287-2740 and you will not believe your ears. It will give you some interesting insight into the mind of this major donor who gave nearly $700,000 to take away marriage, equal rights and happiness from so many.

HUFFINGTON POST

Our “Dump Rick Warren” campaign got a big boost today with the publishing of the letter to President-elect Obama on its main political page. It has gotten a huge response. Here’s the link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fred-karger/dump-rick-warren---letter_b_152601.html Check it out and leave a comment. Last month alone Huffington Post had 8 million visitors! Thank you Arianna Huffington for all you do!

USA TODAY

It’s online, in newsstands and in front of every hotel room in the USA -- a really interesting story by reporter Bill Welch on the Prop 8 boycotts and the response of those being targeted. Funny that neither Doug Manchester nor Terry Caster returned USA Today’s phone calls. They used to love to talk to the media. Here’s the link to the story: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-12-21-blacklist_N.htm

MORMON MONEY WATCH

We began our Mormon Money Watch back in early August when we discovered the millions of dollars pouring in to the Yes on 8 campaign to the tune of $511,000 per day at its peak. Mind boggling numbers that rivaled Barack Obama’s national fund-raising. Nearly all of this money was from Mormon families, and helped bring the Mormon Church’s fund-raising total to nearly $25 million = between 70 to 75% of all the Yes on 8 money raised.

The really big individual Mormon money started to come in late in the campaign. They reported $2 million from just 7 Mormon donors during the last week alone. And just when you think that there was no more Mormon money left (the election was 7 weeks ago) another big chunk was just was reported. The President of the Mormon owned BYU Hawaii University, Steven Wheelwright ($44,900.00) and his wife Margaret ($43,900.00) gave a total of $88,800 to Yes on 8 on December 3, 2008. Maybe this is to help the Mormon Church with the costs associated with the California Fair Political Practices Commission investigation of the Mormon Church’s lack of reporting their non-monetary contributions. A complaint was filed by Californians Against Hate that resulted in this unprecedented investigation by the State of California into the alleged reporting violations by the Salt Lake based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Future of Californians Against Hate

We have been meeting with many people to determine if there is a place for our organization in our continuing battle for LGBT equal rights. We have met with some of the leadership of the LGBT movement and talked to many of our supporters and friends. The consensus was that we played an important role in bringing attention to the major contributors to Yes on 8. We had several demonstrations throughout the summer and fall, called 3 boycotts and published our Dishonor Roll of the nearly 1,200 $5,000 and over contributors to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign.

We are now looking at the major organizations who contributed over $2 million to Yes on 8. They are James Dobson’s Focus on the Family, Donald Wildmon’s American Family Association (AFA) and Maggie Gallagher’s National Organization for Marriage (NOM). These 3 mega out of state organizations were critical to the success of Prop 8. We now want to closely examine their operations and leadership.

Our volunteer research team, made up of some very talented men and women, has begun a close examination of all 3. We do need your help if we are going to continue to expose the leaders who are determined to stop our fight for equality. These 3 organizations helped pass the 30 same-sex marriage bans in all 30 states that they went in to. Now we are beginning to fight back, and they are not too happy about it.

Please help us. Your financial support is needed now. Visit our web site http://californiansagainsthate.com and at the very top of the page, just click on the bright red DONATE button. It’s a fast and easy way to help us take on these giants who are determined to make sure that their discrimination against gays and lesbians and many other American is the law of the land.

We need to mobilize, organize and fund-raise and eventually go back to all 30 states and overturn these mean-spirited laws that have taken away same-sex marriage and equality for an entire class of people.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS & 2009

As another holiday season is upon us and a brand new year approaches, we at Californians Against Hate want to wish you and your family a very happy holiday and all good things in what we are sure will be an exciting and historic 2009.

Take Action Today to "Dump RIck Warren"

Thanks to our friends at No Rick Warren at the Obama Inauguration, her are some action items for you to help Dump Rick Warren:

1. Call on President-elect Obama to restore our trust and take real action on equality!http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/positivechange?rk=Dpd3TLsawPqTE2. Take action on the pick of Rick Warren for Obama’s invocation: http://jointheimpact.com/2008/12/rick-warren-what-can-you-do/

3. Send Obama a letter at http://change.gov/page/content/contact/ and ask Rick Warren to be removed from the event!

4. Email Parag Mehta, Obama's LGBT liaison on the transition team at parag.mehta@ptt.gov to express your concern.5. Emmett Belivau is the Executive Director/CEO of the Inaugural Committee. Let him know your thoughts:202-203-1715 emmett@pic2009.org

6. Have your voice to be heard and send emails to the members of Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, including
Sen. Dianne Feinsteinhttp://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe
Sen. Harry Reidhttp://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm
Sen. Bob Bennetthttp://bennett.senate.gov/contact/email_form.cfm
Rep. Nancy Pelosihttp://speaker.house.gov/contact/
Rep. Steny Hoyerhttp://hoyer.house.gov/contact/email.asp
Rep. John Boehnerhttp://johnboehner.house.gov/Contact/

7. Post your letters on the discussion board. Let the whole world know why are you disappointed and outraged!8. Ask your friends and family members to do the same.

Letter to President-elect Obama

December 19, 2008

President-elect Barack Obama
Presidential Transition Office
Washington, DC 20270

Dear President-elect Obama:

The gay and lesbian community, our millions of friends and all other fair minded Americans are extremely hurt and angry with your choice of Reverend Rick Warren to give the invocation at your Inauguration next month.

In an interview just 4 days ago, Reverend Warren compared gay marriage to legitimizing incest, child abuse, and polygamy. He said:

"I'm opposed to redefinition of a 5,000 year definition of marriage. I'm opposed to having a brother and sister being together and calling that marriage. I'm opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that marriage. I'm opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage." -- Rick Warren, Pastor of Saddleback Church, December 15, 2008

How can he talk about loving same-sex couples who wish to marry like everyone else in this cruel way? This guy is a bigot plain and simple. He has a long history of saying mean and hateful things to so many Americans with whom he does not agree, that he seems an odd fit into your celebration as you assume the Presidency of the United States.

So today we are asking you to drop Rick Warren from delivering the invocation at your swearing in ceremony.

We will be launching a new web site www.DropRickWarren.com to ask others to join in our effort to help persuade you to choose another man or woman to take this place of honor at your historic Inauguration.

We hope that you will drop Reverend Warren soon, and instead pick one of the thousands of religious leaders who don’t offend the gay and lesbian community and so many other Americans. You campaigned and were elected to unite this country and your removal of Rick Warren would go a long way toward achieving that goal.

Rick Warren was a major supporter of California’s Proposition 8, the successful ballot initiative to ban gay marriage. Many prominent national gay leaders have called for Reverend Warren to step aside or for you to remove him.

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, declared your invitation to Rick Warren a “genuine blow” to gay Americans. “And by inviting Rick Warren to your Inauguration, you have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table,” he wrote.

Equality California Executive Director, Geoff Kors said yesterday that, “I have decided to decline the invitation to attend the inauguration as I cannot be part of a celebration that highlights and gives voice to someone who advocated repealing rights from me and millions of other Californians.

Mr. President-elect, we know that you are trying to be inclusive at your Inaugural and in your administration and we applaud that. We, however, strongly urge you to do the right thing and reconsider your choice of Rick Warren. If you drop Rick Warren, it will send a loud and clear message to America and the world that you do not tolerate discrimination and hatred from anyone.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely yours,

Fred Karger
Founder
www.CaliforniansAgainstHate.com

News Update

San Diego March on Caster and Manchester

Thanks to the great leadership of Unite Here Local 30, the hotel workers union, an incredible “Walk for Equality” was held last Saturday evening, December 6th in San Diego. The demonstrators gathered to protest against two of the biggest contributors to Yes on Prop 8 campaign, which ended marriage equality just one month ago. The March began at $693,000 mega donor Terry Caster’s A-1 Self Storage http://a1storage.com/ brand new downtown location on Pacific Highway. Over 100 marchers then headed the 1.7 miles to $125,000 Yes on Prop 8 major donor Doug Manchester(’s) Grand Hyatt Hotel http://www.dougmanchester.com on Harbor Drive. Boycotts have been called by Californians Against Hate against both businesses because of their owner’s huge contributions to Prop 8.

Brigette Browning, President of Unite Here Local 30 addressed the crowd outside A-1 Self Storage at 5:00 pm. There was a wonderful mix of gay and straight demonstrators. There were families, same-sex couples who had gotten married over the summer before Prop 8 passed and lots of Unite Here members arriving after work. There was amazing energy and excitement as both boycotts continue to pick up steam.

The Saturday demonstration served as Terry Caster’s Grand Opening, since his downtown A-1 Self Storage facility opened the day before. http://www.a1storage.com/self_storage/San_Diego_Downtown_CA/zip_92101/a-1_self_storage/441

Here’s the demonstration coverage from the San Diego Union-Tribune: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20081207-9999-1m7b2briefs.html

Thanks go out to Unite Here’s Political Director, Dan Rottenstreich, who has been directing the Manchester Grand Hyatt Boycott and organizing demonstrations on a near weekly basis.

BOYCOTT THE MANCHESTER GRAND HYATT

Yes, that was a laser projecting a giant “BOYCOTT” on the side of the Manchester Grand Hyatt. It ran a full 8 stories on the side of San Diego’s biggest hotel. There are great pictures of this and the full demonstration on our blog: http://californiansagainsthate.blogspot.com

Several big conventions have left the Manchester property as the boycott enters its 6th month. http://www.boycottmanchesterhotels.com

Lots of people are going to the Yelp web site to voice their concern about Doug Manchester’s huge and early support of Prop 8. Here are the Yelp links to his two hotels. Leave a comment re how you feel about his $125,000 contribution to take away equality. Here are the links for the Manchester Grand Hyatt and his other hotel the Grand Del Mar:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/manchester-grand-hyatt-san-diego
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-grand-del-mar-resort-san-diego

CALL TERRY CASTER Right Now

Just after Californians Against Hate called for a boycott of Terry Caster’s A-1 Self Storage Company, Terry Caster put in a separate phone line to field all of the calls coming into to him. Terry Caster owns, A-1 Self Storage. You won’t believe what this guy says to “explain” his homophobia. It’s MUST CALL FOR ALL. He only goes on for 2 minutes and you can leave Terry Caster a recorded message if you are so inclined. You have never heard anything like this before. You will not believe what this man has to say in his own defense. Call right now before he takes his rant off.
Here’s the number: 619-287-2740

California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC)
to Investigate Mormon Church

Ten days after Californians Against Hate filed its sworn complaint against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the FPPC announced that it would investigate the failure of the Mormon Church to report what we estimate to be hundreds of thousands of dollars in non monetary contributions to the Yes on 8 campaign.

This unprecedented investigation of one of the most secretive organizations in the world will begin soon. When the complaint was filed a Mormon Church spokesman said that they had complied with all California election laws on the advice of their California political attorneys. He said they filed four separate non monetary reports. We could only find one, and it was not filed until November 1, 2008 – just 3 days before the election. It was for only $2964. Not a lot of money compared to the New Jersey based National Organization of Marriage $210,634,75 or James Dobson’s Colorado Springs based Focus on the Family which reported $83,790.00 in non monetary contributions.

After the investigation was announced, another Mormon spokesman said that they would send all appropriate information to the FPPC. Then in a San Francisco Chronicle story a few days later, they changed their story again, and said that they did not need to report any non monetary contributions, only their members needed to report contributions. Should be interesting.

If you have any information about any expenditures that were made by the Mormon Church directly during the Prop 8 campaign, please forward it on to us. We will not indicate where we received the information, and it will be held in the strictest confidence. You can email us at: info@californiansagainsthate.com or by phone: 619-592-2008 Thank you!

New York Times Editorial: The Prop 8 Campaign Money

The Prop 8 Campaign Money
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/opinion/29sat2.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Published: November 29, 2008

California’s fair-elections commission is investigating a complaint against the Mormon Church’s role in campaigning for Proposition 8, which made marriage illegal between people of the same sex. Based on the facts that have come out so far, the state is right to look into whether the church broke state laws by failing to report campaign-related expenditures.Skip to next paragraph
Proposition 8, which California voters passed on Nov. 4, overturned a ruling by the California Supreme Court and wrote discrimination against one particular group of people into the State Constitution. After it passed, tens of thousands of people rallied in cities across the country in support of same-sex marriage. The California Supreme Court said recently that it would review whether Proposition 8 was constitutional.

Mormons were a major force behind the ballot measure. Individual church members contributed millions of dollars and acted as campaign foot soldiers. The church itself also played an unusually large role. Michael R. Otterson, the managing director of public affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — the full name of the Mormons’ church — said that while the church speaks out on other issues, like abortion, “we don’t get involved to the degree we did on this.”
Fred Karger, the founder of a group called Californians Against Hate, who filed the complaint, contends that the Mormon Church provided significant contributions to the pro-Proposition 8 campaign that it did not report, as state law requires. The Fair Political Practices Commission of California is investigating, among other things, commercials, out-of-state phone banks and a Web site sponsored by the church.

If the commission finds that the church violated state reporting laws, it could impose penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and sue for additional amounts. The Mormon Church, which says it is sending information to the commission, says it did nothing wrong.

Churches, which risk their tax-exempt status if they endorse candidates, have more leeway in referendum campaigns. Still, when they enter the political fray, they have the same obligation to follow the rules that nonreligious groups do.

More Articles in Opinion » A version of this article appeared in print on November 29, 2008, on page A22 of the New York edition.

Roman Porter, Executive Director of the FPPC sent in a letter to Californians Against Hate telling of their decision to investigate the Mormon Church for possible campaign reporting violations. The news of the investigation received international media attention. Here are 6 links to just some of the coverage. Many other stories are up on our blog.

Los Angeles Times -- http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/11/california-offi.html

New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/us/politics/26marriage.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=mormon%20investigation&st=cse-

Boston Globe -- http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles_of_faith/2008/11/mormons_facing_1.html

Salt Lake Tribune -- http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11064769

Fox News -- http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,457086,00.html

Gay & Lesbian Times -- http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=13628


The Two Largest Individual Contributors to Yes on 8

We came across these rare photos of the two largest Yes on 8 individual contributors, California’s own Howard “Howie” Ahmanson, Jr. and Philadelphia resident John Templeton, Jr. These two men both inherited vast fortunes from their highly successful fathers and have used that money for many years against gay and lesbian civil rights. What possess someone to give $1,395,000 – Ahmanson and $1,100,000 - Templeton to take away the rights of a small minority and write discrimination into the California Constitution? We’re not sure, but we have a pretty good idea.



John Templeton, Jr. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

More News From Californians Against Hate -- Check it out.

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

New York Times Editorial Supports FPPC Investigation of Mormon Church

Below is the link to today's NEW YORK TIMES EDITORIAL in support of the investigation by the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) of the Mormon Church re Prop 8. I filed the complaint on November 13th and the FPPC agreed to launch an investigation this week.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/29/opinion/29sat2.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Fred Karger
Founder
Californians Against Hate
http://californiansagainsthate.com
619-592-2008

Full Story:

Editorial
The Prop 8 Campaign Money
Published: November 29, 2008
California’s fair-elections commission is investigating a complaint against the Mormon Church’s role in campaigning for Proposition 8, which made marriage illegal between people of the same sex. Based on the facts that have come out so far, the state is right to look into whether the church broke state laws by failing to report campaign-related expenditures.

Proposition 8, which California voters passed on Nov. 4, overturned a ruling by the California Supreme Court and wrote discrimination against one particular group of people into the State Constitution. After it passed, tens of thousands of people rallied in cities across the country in support of same-sex marriage. The California Supreme Court said recently that it would review whether Proposition 8 was constitutional.

Mormons were a major force behind the ballot measure. Individual church members contributed millions of dollars and acted as campaign foot soldiers. The church itself also played an unusually large role. Michael R. Otterson, the managing director of public affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — the full name of the Mormons’ church — said that while the church speaks out on other issues, like abortion, “we don’t get involved to the degree we did on this.”

Fred Karger, the founder of a group called Californians Against Hate, who filed the complaint, contends that the Mormon Church provided significant contributions to the pro-Proposition 8 campaign that it did not report, as state law requires. The Fair Political Practices Commission of California is investigating, among other things, commercials, out-of-state phone banks and a Web site sponsored by the church.

If the commission finds that the church violated state reporting laws, it could impose penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, and sue for additional amounts. The Mormon Church, which says it is sending information to the commission, says it did nothing wrong.

Churches, which risk their tax-exempt status if they endorse candidates, have more leeway in referendum campaigns. Still, when they enter the political fray, they have the same obligation to follow the rules that nonreligious groups do.

-- end --

All the News on Californians Against Hate - Read All About It!

New York Times -- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/us/politics/26marriage.html?_r=2&scp=1&sq=mormon%20investigation&st=cse

Fox News -- http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,457086,00.html

Salt Lake Tribune -- http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11064769

Sacramento Bee -- http://www.sacbee.com/749/story/1425404.html

Los Angeles Times -- http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2008/11/proposition-8-2.html

San Francisco Chronicle -- http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=33015

San Diego Union-Tribune -- http://weblog.signonsandiego.com/news/breaking/2008/11/prop_8_opponents_announce_new.html

San Jose Mercury News -- http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11071952

San Jose Mercury News -- http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_11065696?nclick_check=1

San Francisco Sentinel -- http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=17624

GLT San Diego -- http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=13533

GLT San Diego -- http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=13504

GLT San Diego -- http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=13535

Desert Sun -- http://www.mydesert.com/article/20081121/NEWS01/811210343/1026/news12

Huffington Post -- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/fred-karger/boycott-a-1-self-storage_b_145103.html

The Daily Princetonian -- http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/11/19/22161/

Les Get Real -- http://lezgetreal.com/2008/11/where-do-we-go-from-here.html

Mother Talker -- http://www.mothertalkers.com/storyonly/2008/11/16/185426/35

Political Correctness Site -- http://pcwatch.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html#7105213593601224553

Square State -- http://www.squarestate.net/diary/7220/focus-on-the-family-cuts-200-jobs

Life in the Avenues -- http://horseychicken.wordpress.com/2008/11/19/put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is/

DigiActive -- http://www.digiactive.org/2008/11/24/campaign-protests-against-proposition-8

Lavender Newswire -- http://news.lavenderliberal.com/2008/11/24/ceos-hiding-proposition-8-donations-behind-wives-skirts/

Gateway Pundit -- http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2008/11/unreal-california-courts-will.html

Out Impact - http://www.outimpact.com/gay-rights/californians-against-hate-who-were-the-top-12-contributors-for-prop-8

The Campaign Silo -- http://campaignsilo.firedoglake.com/2008/11/24/probe-of-mormon-church-underway

Out Impact -- http://www.inlookout.com/2008/11/24/california-commission-to-investigate-mormon-involvement-in-prop-8

Inside Looking Out -- http://www.inlookout.com/2008/11/24/california-commission-to-investigate-mormon-involvement-in-prop-8

ALO News -- http://news.aol.com/article/california-to-investigate-mormon-aid-to/205955

Lesbians of Color -- http://lesbianofcolor.blogspot.com/2008/11/ongoing-1-storage-boycott.html

Pride and Shame -- http://prideandshame.blogspot.com/2008/11/shame-alert-1-storage.html

America Blog -- http://www.americablog.com

Pam’s House Blend -- http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8398

Catholic On Line -- http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=30738

2015place.com ¬¬-- http://www.2015place.com/2008/11/combined-gay-news-headlines-t5t-1_1503.html

ECCO -- http://www.eccopac.org/2008/11/california-fair-political-practices.html

BGay.com -- http://www.bgay.com/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=694&Itemid=23

Towleroad -- http://www.bgay.com/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=694&Itemid=23

Godless Liberal Homo -- http://godlessliberalhomo.blogspot.com/2008/11/mormon-church-under-investigation.html

Shakesville -- http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2008/11/california-to-investigate-mormons.html

The Soap Box -- http://theesoapbox.blogspot.com/2008/11/what-happens-if-youre-on-gay-enemies.html

Three Legged Stool -- http://threelegedstool.blogspot.com/2008/11/mormons-to-be-investigated-over-prop-8.html

Daily Kos -- http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/26/125059/17?detail=f

Queer Click -- http://sticky.queerclick.com/post/12752?goto#12752

Freep.com -- http://www.freep.com/article/20081125/NEWS07/81125096/1009

On Top -- http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=2786&MediaType=1&Category=26

FPPC To Investigate Mormon Church Involvement in Prop 8

NEWS RELEASE November, 24, 2008


California Fair Political Practices Commission to
Investigate Mormon Church Involvement in Prop 8

LOS ANGELES, CA – Fred Karger, Founder of Californians Against Hate received a letter today from the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) regarding the sworn complaint that he filed on November 13, 2008. The complaint requested the FPPC investigate the alleged lack of reporting of numerous non monetary contributions to ProtectMarriage.com / Yes on 8, A Project of California Renewal I.D. #1302592 by the Mormon Church. The letter from FPPC Executive Director, Roman Porter, dated November 21, 2008 was received by fax. Below is the text of the letter from Mr. Porter.

Fair Political Practices Commission
428 J Street, Suite 629, Sacramento, CA 95814-2329
(916)322-5660 Fax (916)322-0886

November 21, 2008

Fred Karger
1278 Glenneyre, #20
Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Re; FPPC File No. 08/735; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints aka the Mormon Church of Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear Mr. Karger:

This letter is to notify you that the Enforcement Division of the Fair Political Practices Commission (the FPPC) will investigate the allegation(s), under the jurisdiction of the FPPC, of the sworn complaint you submitted in the above-referenced matter. You will next receive notification from us upon final disposition of the case. However, please be advised that at this time we have not made any determination about the validity of the allegation(s) you made or about the culpability, if any, of the person(s) you identify in your complaint.

Thank you for taking the time to bring this matter to our attention.

Sincerely,

Roman G. Porter
Executive Director

cc: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints aka the Mormon Church of Salt Lake City, Utah

“We are very pleased that the FPPC has agreed to launch an investigation based on our complaint,” said Fred Karger. “My 4 page letter to Chairman Ross Johnson and California and Utah Attorneys General Edmund G. Brown, Jr. and Mark Shurtleff with all of the alleged unreported activities is available on our blog at: http://californiansagainsthate.blogspot.com/ We’re hopeful the Mormon Church will fully cooperate with the investigation, and that we will find out the full extent of their involvement in the Yes on 8 campaign.”

-- end --

Secret Mormon Memo From 1997

We just came across this internal memo and commentary that was posted on Daily Kos detailing the Mormon Plan to pull the Catholic Church into their campaign to stop same-sex marrige going back over 11 years. Check it out at this link:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/11/3/15369/3779/711/651188

Discrimination at Princeton?

Check out this wonderful video on YouTube:

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/11/princetons-prop.html

News Update

Mormons Don't Like to be Singled Out

Last Friday, in a highly unusual move, the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) issued a press release out of the Church’s Newsroom in Salt Lake City, Utah. President Thomas S. Monson called for "Respect, Civility in Public Discourse" www.newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng The very next day the New York Times broke a story on the Church’s involvement in the campaign entitled "Mormons Tipped Scale in Ban on Gay Marriage." It detailed church campaign plans from a leaked memo. The memo discussed training and guidelines for Church members to follow in order to pass California’s Proposition 8. It's quite a story by Jesse McKinley and Kirk Johnson http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/us/politics/15marriage.html?pagewanted=1&sq=mormon%20church&st=nyt&scp=3

President Monson asks demonstrators to respect their places of worship. These places of worship were serving as campaign headquarters just two weeks ago. We have heard that this is where Mormon Church members would go to get lawn signs, campaign materials, and voter lists for walking and calling registered voters. All summer and fall they were using these places of worship to actively campaign against Prop 8, and often directly from the pulpit.

They produced 14 campaign commercials, 2 web sites, ran phone banks from Utah and Idaho, sent direct mail, ran a speakers bureau, printed campaign literature, organized thousands of precinct walks and even transported people to California to work on their behalf.

In a weekend newspaper interview, Yes on 8 campaign manager, Frank Schubert said that Mormons contributed $15 to $20 million to the Yes on 8 campaign. If that’s what he’s admitting, we’re sure that it’s way more. Mormon Church leaders know to the penny how much their members gave to Yes on 8. The Wall Street Journal reported that they had church members send their donations to a post office box so they could track how much LDS money was coming in. It was then bundled and sent directly to the campaign. That was spelled out in Mark Schoof’s Wall Street Journal story of September 20, 2008. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122186063716658279.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

So with all these memos and admissions and all the evidence that we presented in our filing of last week, we are hopeful that the California Fair Political Practices Commission will launch an investigation to determine why the Mormon Church did not file reports of their numerous non monetary contributions to Yes on 8. A Church spokesman said that they filed four reports with the California Secretary of State detailing all these non-monetary expenditures. We could only find one. It was filed 4 days before the election on November 1, 2008 for $2,864.21. They did an awful lot of campaigning for only $2,864.21.

Demonstrations, Rallies and More Demonstrations

Last Saturday, there were hundreds of demonstrations held in cities and towns all over the county in support of full equality for gays and lesbians. This was the largest outpouring of support in our long civil rights movement. Many of these cities had never had demonstrations on LGBT equality before. From the coverage we saw and the demonstrations that we attended, they were very mixed with gay and straight supporters of same-sex marriage all standing side by side. At the San Jose Rally, a speaker told everyone to go to the web site of Californians against Hate http://www.californiansagainsthate.com to view our Dishonor Roll of over 800 contributors to Yes on 8 who gave a minimum of $5,000. We will continue to update the list as we get more information, and we have received quite a bit of new information via email from many supporters. Thank you for the tips. Our web site, which averaged about 350 visitors a day, has jumped to up to over 13,000 visitors per day! That keeps us very busy around here.

National Media Converage of our FPPC Filing

It was the filing heard ‘round the world. We’ve seen over 100 television, radio, magazine, newspaper and blog reports on the sworn complaint that Californians Against Hate filed against the LDS Church last week. The coverage included; NPR, Time Magazine, USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, The Salt lake City Tribune, The Deseret News and lots more. We have most of the links up on our Blog http://californiansagainsthate.blogspot.com

Here are links to some of the magazine and newspaper coverage:

Time Magazine -- http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1859323,00.html?iid=tsmodule

Los Angeles Times - http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-me-boycott14-2008nov14,0,4880904.story

New York Times -- http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Gay-Marriage-Mormons.html?_r=1&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

Salt Lake Tribune -- http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10982571

Deseret News -- http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705262980,00.html

USA Today -- http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-11-13-backlash_N.htm

Washington Post -- http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/14/AR2008111403508_pf.html


San Diego Union-Tribune -- http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/state/20081115-9999-1n15prop8.html

Mormons Are Resigning the LDS Church Over Prop 8

There is a new web site that began in July that allows Mormons to quiet the Church publically over all its support for Prop 8. It’s called Signing for Something http://signingforsomething.org/blog It is very interesting. Check it out.

More Reporting Questions on Yes on 8 Donors

One of our crack researchers discovered that several major contributors to Yes on 8 had put down "retired" or "homemaker" under occupation when in fact they appear to be employed. In many instances these contributors show up as owners or CEO’s of their companies. Also, when checking more closely there is an unusually high number of homemakers making 5 and 6 figure contributions to Yes on 8. Could it be that their husbands did not want their names connected to the Yes on 8 campaign?

Steve Largent’s Wife Contributed $2,000 to Yes on 8

A good example of spouses contributing is the $2,000 contribution of Terry Largent. She is the wife of former Congressman and Seattle Seahawks football star, Steve Largent. Steve Largent is now the President & CEO of CTIA The Wireless Association http://www.ctia.org CTIA is the Washington, DC based international lobbying and trade association for all the major wireless phone companies. The Largents live in Arlington, Virginia, and Steve joined the Board of Directors of James Dobson’s Focus on the Family in 2003 after he left Congress.

Wife of Sharp Healthcare’s CEO Gave $2,350 to Yes on 8

Mike Murphy heads San Diego’s largest hospital and biggest employer. His wife Sandra gave 4 separate contributions to Yes on 8 between March 10 and October 24, 2008 totaling $2,350. She listed her occupation and employer as "none." Maybe this was done in order to not draw any attention to her husband.

James Dobson’s Focus on the Family Lays Off 202

Focus on the Family, based in Colorado Springs, Colorado was one of the leaders in the qualification of Prop 8 last winter and spring. They gave $539,643.66 and another $83,000 in non monetary contributions. They just cut 20% of their workforce. There is an excellent story on what is happening with this mega-ministry in today’s Colorado Independent by Cara Degette http://coloradoindependent.com/15287/after-pumping-money-into-prop-8-focus-on-the-family-announcing-layoffs?disqus_reply=3867526#disqus-claim

Please Support Our Crusade

We have never asked for financial support since our inception in July of this year. I pledged that we would self fund our small volunteer operation, and not take any resources away from the No on 8 campaign. And we did just that. Utilizing volunteers, we accomplished much. We certainly drew a lot of attention to all the major donors to Yes on 8. We conducted demonstrations in San Diego, Rancho Santa Fe, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, DC. We called a few boycotts, continuously maintained our now famous Dishonor Roll of all contributors to Yes on 8 of $5,000 and over, and talked bluntly about the hate that was coming our way from so many of these big contributors. We tracked all the money coming in every day for 4 months, and were the first to discover the Mormon money pouring into the campaign coffers of Yes on 8 to the tune of $514,000 per day during most of August and September. Now we need your help to pursue our activities, including our filing before the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

We hope to continue our efforts and act as a truth squad to track the organizations and individuals who are out to deny us our civil rights and full equality.

Now, for the very first time, we turn to you for financial help. Please visit our web site http://www.californiansagainsthate.com and on the top right hand corner is a red DONATE button. Just click on that, and you will be taken directly to pay pal. It’s so easy to help us, and 100% of your contribution will go to direct action. We are all volunteers working out of our homes.

Won’t you please send $10, $25, $50, $100 or more to help us with all the expenses that we face? I promise you that we will work hard and continue to expose those who are out to hurt us.

Thank you in advance, and stay tuned for lots more from Californians Against Hate!

Boycott A-1 Self Storage - Owner Gave $693,000 to Yes on 8

NEWS RELEASE

SAN DIEGO, CA -- Californians Against Hate officially kicks off its Boycott of A-1 Self Storage Company today because of owner Terry Caster’s enormous contribution to the Yes on 8 campaign.

Fred Karger, Founder of Californians Against Hate announced the start of a virtually organized boycott of A-1 Self Storage today in his column on the Huffington Post. A new boycott web site was launched: http://www.BoycottA-1SelfStorage.com “We believe that the gay community and our millions of friends will support this Boycott of A-1 Self Storage,” said Karger.

From the Huffington Post Column:

Why would someone contribute $693,000 to take away the rights of an entire minority group in California? Terry Caster and his family did just that. Caster, his 8 children and many of their spouses gave a total of $293,000 to help qualify Proposition 8 for the ballot earlier this year. Then when the plea went out for more money from the Yes on 8 campaign in late October, Caster opened up his checkbook and gave an additional $400,000 to take away same-sex marriage in California. That’s $693,000 to Yes on 8! Terry Caster was the 2nd largest contributor in California to the Yes on 8 campaign.

Caster told the San Diego Union-Tribune in May that marriage equality threatens society. "Without solid marriage, you are going to have a sick society," he said.

Terry Caster owns San Diego based A-1 Self Storage Company http://a1storage.com which has 30 locations all over California.

If you are a current customer of A-1, we hope that you will move your belongings to another company. There are hundred of other self storage business to choose from in California. Those who are looking to rent a new storage unit, we encourage you to go to any one the many other options available.

This will be the third boycott called by Californians Against Hate over the last four months, and we are determined to make this our most successful.

Of the other two boycotts, one is ongoing and the other was settled. On July 18, 2008 Californians Against Hate announced its first boycott at the March on Manchester, a demonstration and rally in San Diego against Doug Manchester. Manchester owns two hotels in San Diego, The Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel and the Grand del Mar Resort http://www.boycottmanchesterhotels.com/ Manchester gave $125,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign. Many groups and individuals have honored this boycott, and it has reciceved a tremendous amount of media coverage.

On September 19th our “Don’t Buy Bolthouse” campaign was kicked-off at a demonstration in front of Ralph’s Supermarket in Hollywood. At that time we asked consumers not to buy products produced by Bakersfield, CA based Bolthouse Farms. William Bolthouse, Jr. the company’s former CEO had made a personal contribution of $100,000 to Yes on 8. On October 9th “Don’t Buy Bolthouse” was ended after 3 weeks when an agreement was reached with new Bolthouse CEO, Jeff Dunn. Bolthouse Farms embarked on a comprehensive diversity program designed to support inclusiveness in its dealings with all stakeholders including the LGBT community. Additionally, they agreed to financially support several LGBT organizations.

Californians Against Hate began a “Call Terry Caster” campaign complete with its own web site on August 8th. The campaign asked people to call Caster personally to ask him why he gave so much money. The 800 numbers to his personal office and to A-1 Self Storage were posted on our site. This campaign continued through yesterday, and will now be replaced by the Boycott of A-1 Self Storage.

We will be primarily conducting the Boycott of A-1 Self Storage virtually. It will be done through web sites, social and business networking sites and through the blogosphere. We have a link on the Boycott web site to www.Yelp.com and will be asking people to go to Yelp and leave a comment next to the A-1 Self Storage facility near them.

Boycotts have had a place in civil rights movements for a long time. In the last 20 years they have mostly been done by conservative Christians. There was a wonderful story written by Bill Ainsworth of the San Diego Union-Tribune on July 28th on the history of boycotts and their effects:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080728/news_1n28boyside.html

The King of Boycotts has been the American Family Association (AFA) headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi http://www.afa.net/ Their web site includes a whole page on the “Homosexual Agenda.” AFA is headed by the father and son team of Don and Tim Wildmon. They own 190 radio stations and have an annual budget of $24 million. AFA began targeting big companies that had any connection to gay or lesbian activities in the early 90’s.

AFA ran an 8 year boycott against Disney because it dared to rent out its Disney World Theme Park for an annual gay party, and they offered benefits to same-sex partners of employees. In 2003 AFA boycotted Abercrombie & Fitch, calling on it to stop using pornography in its quarterly catalog. In 2005 the AFA boycotted the company American Girl, the maker of dolls and accessories, because the company supported the charity Girls, Inc., which the AFA called "a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group.” Also in 2005, AFA boycotted Kraft Foods for being a sponsor of the 2005 Gay Games in Chicago. In spring 2005 the AFA launched a boycott of Ford for advertising in gay magazines, donating to gay-rights organizations, and sponsoring gay pride celebrations. In 2006 the AFA urged its members to condemn Sears for running commercials on Logo, an LGBT cable channel.

Then by no coincidence, on Memorial Day this year, AFA announced a world- wide boycott of McDonalds for contributing a mere $20,000 to the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The timing was intentional. It came as soon as it was known that Proposition 8 had qualified for the November ballot. The boycott of McDonalds was sent as a warning to corporate American that you better not contribute to the No on 8 campaign or we will boycott you, too.
And then the most ridiculous of them all, on August 25th, AFA called for a boycott of Hallmark Cards, because they now sold same-sex wedding cards.

AFA has boycotted over 25 companies for their support of issues and organizations in which they believe.

Well, Californians Against Hate strongly believes that we should boycott Terry Caster’s A-1 Self Storage Company because of his $693,000 contribution to take away equality from an entire class of people in California. And we will.

Liveblog Thursday Night

Just got his from Bil Browning who heads the incredible Bilerico Web Site. Be sure and tune in tomorrow night, Thursday, November 20th.

I'm lucky enough to host a Liveblog with Kate Kendell, Nadine Smith, and Barbara McCullough-Jones. As you know, these three women led the anti-amendment charge in California, Florida, and Arizona.

They'll be answering questions and taking comments live about the amendment battles. Topics will range from "What went wrong?" to "Where do we go from here?" It's an amazing opportunity for the average Joe/Jane to directly ask questions to these leaders - something I don't think has ever been done before to such a large scale. Pam Spaulding will be my co-host for the evening's chat.

Pam, Kate and Nadine are Bilerico Project contributors and Barbara is a frequent guest blogger.
The Liveblog is scheduled for Thursday evening at 7pm EST. We have a post up now about it to drum up interest that includes this cool little box that lets people sign up for an e-mail reminder about the Liveblog. We're also soliciting questions in the comment section of my announcement post at: http://www.bilerico.com/2008/11/liveblog_with_anti-amendment_leaders_kat.php