Conservative Group Admits Stealing Gay Couple's Picture
by Doreen Brandt 365Gay.com Washington Bureau
Posted: March 4, 2005 5:01 p pm. ET
(Washington) A conservative group admitted late Friday that it illegally used a wedding photograph of a Portland, Oregon gay couple in an ad attacking the American Association for Retired People.
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The ad, by USA Next, is attacking the AARP for opposing the Bush administration's proposed changes to Social Security and attempts to "discredit" the organization by suggesting it supports gay marriage and opposes the war in Iraq.
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In addition, ABC news has linked some of the members of USA Next to the same people behind the controversial Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads that challenged the war record of Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry. And, there have been unverified suggestions that Montini has links to Talon News, the now defunct conservative online publication that employed J.D. Guckert the man who posed as a White House reporter while working as a male prostitute
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"... after Montini had been told by Meyers by phone and via e-mail that the paper would not sell him the photo for use in an ad, he tried another tack. He sent $600 — the typical fee for such commercial use of a photo— through PayPal, the electronic money transfer system, in payment for using the photo. The money was quickly refunded in full via PayPal because the newspaper would not grant permission for an ad agency to use a photo in this way."
More:
http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/03/030405wedPic.htm