Leaked Memos show Organization uses Homophobia, Race in Fight against Equality

If you have been following the fight for LGBT equality at all the past few years, you have no doubt ran across a group called the National Organization for Marriage.

The radical right-wing group, famous for such classics as the prop 8 “Gathering Storm” TV spot,  has long been known for its tactics of using fear and homophobia as weapons in their attempt to stop marriage equality.

Thanks to a series of  internal memos released by The Human Rights Campaign this week, we can get a sense of just how low the organization will stoop in order to stop equality supporters.

Think Progress reports NOM’s tactics include race-baiting by driving,”a wedge between gays and blacks” by convincing them to fight over the language of “civil rights”, baiting,”Latino voters to oppose marriage equality as “a symbol of resistance to inappropriate assimilation” and by developing, “side issues to weaken pro-gay marriage political leaders” like pornography, “protection of children” and religious liberty at the federal level.”

HRC Campaign Media Director Kevin Nix tells the Daily KOS, “Nothing beats hearing from the horse’s mouth exactly how callous and extremist this group really is.

In the memos, the group also discusses seeking out celebrities and the like who would be sympathetic to  their cause.

Fortunately, as The Washington Blade points out,”the only celebrity known to work directly with NOM as a spokesperson is former Miss California, Carrie Prejean, who made national headlines when she responded to a question by Perez Hilton about same-sex marriage by saying she opposed extending rights to gay couples.”

The release of the memos came on the same exact day that Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner  appointed NOM’s  co-founder and former Chairman Dr. Robert George to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

Click HERE to read the memos for yourself.