Santorum
Fundraiser Links Gays to 9-11
365Gay.com,
April 30, 2003
By Paul Johnson, Washington Bureau Chief
Washington, D.C.—A fundraising
letter sent by Sen Rick Santorum to raise money for a Christian conservative
group opposed to gay marriage contains a veiled link between terrorism and gay
marriage.
The letter, sent on behalf of Alexandria, Va.-based
Alliance for Marriage, was sent shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001.
It went out to people who had given money to Santorum’s
Senate campaign and asked donors for money for the Alliance and its campaign
for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. The mailing said
the money would be used by the group to flood Congress with petitions to
“protect marriage between a man and a woman against the attacks of the
homosexual activists.”
The letter claims gay marriage is of greater concern than
terrorism. “I know it may sound like a huge exaggeration, particularly in
light of the attack on America, but this may truly be the most important
letter I ever write you,” Santorum wrote.
Although the letter was written in 2001, it only came to
public light Wednesday following the Pennsylvania Republican’s highly
publicized interview with the Associated Press in which he equated
homosexuality with incest, polygamy and adultery. (story)
In his letter, obtained by the The Philadelphia Inquirer,
Santorum characterized Alliance for Marriage as a “political
organization.” The group told donors any contributions were tax-deductible.
But, experts told the paper both statements might not be true. They said
donations to political groups are not tax-deductible.
Alliance for Marriage is not registered with
Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Charitable Organizations, and therefore should not
be soliciting funds in Pennsylvania, said Brian McDonald, the state bureau’s
spokesman.
“If they are soliciting in the state, but they’re
collecting $25,000 nationwide, then they have to register with us. They have
not,” McDonald said.
In the 2001 IRS 990s filed by Alliance for Marriage, the
group reported receiving $380,153 in donations.
Democrats have renewed their demands that Santorum step
down from his Republican leadership position in the Senate.
Mark Mead, spokesman for the Log Cabin Republicans, said
the letter raised doubt about Santorum’s priorities.
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