Californians Against Hate
Encyclopedia
Californians Against Hate (CAH) is an American
non-profit organization
public benefit corporation which works as a political watchdog organization. It was founded in 2008 to draw attention to the major donors to qualify and pass California’s Proposition 8
. As the organization has grown, Californians Against Hate has evolved into leading boycotts of companies whose owners gave large contributions to Prop 8. They have also filed complaints with two state ethics commissions that have led to investigations of the LDS Church in California
and the National Organization for Marriage
in Maine
. Californians Against Hate has repeatedly called for a Congressional Investigation of the National Organization for Marriage
due to its late and non reporting of its federal 990 income tax returns.
, a long time Republican political consultant, in response to the large amounts of money flooding into Proposition 8
.
who donated $1,425,000, Howard Ahmanson, Jr. who donated $1,395,000, John Templeton, who donated $1,100,000, National Organization for Marriage $1,041,134.80, Alan Ashton who gave $1,000,000, and 1,100 more.
, the company that William Bolthouse founded. The boycott was called off when Bolthouse Farms
changed its corporate policy on domestic partnership benefits, and the company made matching contributions to various gay organizations, and promised to attain a 100% on HRC
Corporate Equality Index
.
San Diego developer, Doug Manchester donated $125,000 to Proposition 8. Manchester owns the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel
, Southern California’s largest hotel. His early support of Proposition 8 caused an immediate response from gay-rights organizations including GLAAD, which canceled any events that were to be held at the hotel. Californians Against Hate initiated a boycott against the hotel on July 18, 2008, along with the hotel worker’s union, Unite Here
! Local 30. Even though Manchester is the owner of and developer of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the Global Hyatt Corporation has made an attempt to separate his views from that of the managing corporation. Californians Against Hate estimates that the boycott is costing the Hyatt property $1 million per month. Hotel Marketing Director, Kelly Commerford, confirmed that cancellations resulting directly from the boycott had cost the hotel $7 million just in the first 8 months. This figure does not include estimates for those who choose other accommodations due to the boycott.
Terry Caster owns A-1 Self Storage; he and his family donated a total of $693,000 to Proposition 8. Californians Against Hate called a boycott of A-1 Self Storage http://boycotta-1selfstorage.com/ effective November 20, 2008.
In 2009, Californians Against Hate filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service
(IRS) against the National Organization for Marriage
, saying that NOM had refused to make its IRS 990 forms public, as required by law. CAH representatives went to "the Princeton, New Jersey, offices of the National Organization for Marriage twice to get copies of their IRS 990 reports, to no avail," said CAH's president, Fred Karger. "Then our representative, Ben Katzenberg, sent two certified letters to the NOM office on March 18, 2009, requesting its two 990 forms. Federal law requires NOM to furnish copies of these IRS filings within 30 days after the request has been received. And 40 days later, still no 990s."
A complaint filed by Californians Against Hate also led the Maine
Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices to launch an investigation of National Organization for Marriage
. Maine law requires organizations that raise more than $5000 for a ballot question campaign file disclosure reports. NOM had contributed $1.6 million to Stand For Marriage Maine, as of October 23, 2009, without revealing its donor’s names. The commission approved an investigation on a 3–2 vote. NOM responded by filing suit, claiming that the state's election laws violate the Constitution. NOM used the likelihood of their suit's success as an argument to obtain a federal restraining order, which would keep them from having to provide donor names before the date of the election; the request was turned down by federal Judge David Brock Hornby. In January 2010, representatives of the group were subpoenaed to appear before the commission. In February, the group requested that those subpoenas be dropped, but the commission voted 4 to 1 to deny that request.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
public benefit corporation which works as a political watchdog organization. It was founded in 2008 to draw attention to the major donors to qualify and pass California’s Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
. As the organization has grown, Californians Against Hate has evolved into leading boycotts of companies whose owners gave large contributions to Prop 8. They have also filed complaints with two state ethics commissions that have led to investigations of the LDS Church in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and the National Organization for Marriage
National Organization for Marriage
The National Organization for Marriage is a nonprofit political association established in 2007 to work against legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States, specifically to pass California Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage in California...
in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. Californians Against Hate has repeatedly called for a Congressional Investigation of the National Organization for Marriage
National Organization for Marriage
The National Organization for Marriage is a nonprofit political association established in 2007 to work against legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States, specifically to pass California Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage in California...
due to its late and non reporting of its federal 990 income tax returns.
History
Californians Against Hate was founded in July 2008 by Fred KargerFred Karger
Fred S. Karger is an American political consultant, gay rights activist and watchdog, former actor, and candidate for the Republican nomination for the 2012 US Presidential election...
, a long time Republican political consultant, in response to the large amounts of money flooding into Proposition 8
California Proposition 8 (2008)
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition and constitutional amendment passed in the November 2008 state elections...
.
Dishonor Roll
Californians Against Hate compiled the Dishonor Roll and posted it on its web site, listing the donors to Proposition 8 who gave $5,000 or more. These include the Knights of ColumbusKnights of Columbus
The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....
who donated $1,425,000, Howard Ahmanson, Jr. who donated $1,395,000, John Templeton, who donated $1,100,000, National Organization for Marriage $1,041,134.80, Alan Ashton who gave $1,000,000, and 1,100 more.
Boycotts
William Bolthouse gave $100,000 to Proposition 8. Californians Against Hate began a boycott against Bolthouse FarmsBolthouse Farms
Bolthouse Farms, founded 1915 in Grant, Michigan, is a vertically integrated farm company located in California's San Joaquin Valley and headquartered in Bakersfield, California. The company still operates some facilities in Prosser, Washington, but shut down operations in Michigan in June 2010...
, the company that William Bolthouse founded. The boycott was called off when Bolthouse Farms
Bolthouse Farms
Bolthouse Farms, founded 1915 in Grant, Michigan, is a vertically integrated farm company located in California's San Joaquin Valley and headquartered in Bakersfield, California. The company still operates some facilities in Prosser, Washington, but shut down operations in Michigan in June 2010...
changed its corporate policy on domestic partnership benefits, and the company made matching contributions to various gay organizations, and promised to attain a 100% on HRC
HRC
HRC may refer to:* Human Rights Campaign* Human Rights Commission* Human Rights Committee* Hugo Rafael Chávez* Hillary Rodham Clinton is sometimes referred to by her initials, HRC.* Hawaii Regional Cuisine* Hawaii regional cuisine* Hard Rock Cafe...
Corporate Equality Index
Corporate Equality Index
The Corporate Equality Index is a report published by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as a tool to rate American businesses on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors. Its primary source of data are surveys but researchers cross-check...
.
San Diego developer, Doug Manchester donated $125,000 to Proposition 8. Manchester owns the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel
Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel
Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel is a high-rise building in San Diego composed of two towers. The towers are the third and seventh tallest buildings in the city. Developed but no longer owned by the controversial San Diego developer, Doug Manchester, the tower is the tallest building on the waterfront...
, Southern California’s largest hotel. His early support of Proposition 8 caused an immediate response from gay-rights organizations including GLAAD, which canceled any events that were to be held at the hotel. Californians Against Hate initiated a boycott against the hotel on July 18, 2008, along with the hotel worker’s union, Unite Here
UNITE HERE
UNITE HERE is a labor union in the United States and Canada with more than 265,000 active members The union's members work predominantly in the hotel, food service, laundry, warehouse, and casino gaming industries...
! Local 30. Even though Manchester is the owner of and developer of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, the Global Hyatt Corporation has made an attempt to separate his views from that of the managing corporation. Californians Against Hate estimates that the boycott is costing the Hyatt property $1 million per month. Hotel Marketing Director, Kelly Commerford, confirmed that cancellations resulting directly from the boycott had cost the hotel $7 million just in the first 8 months. This figure does not include estimates for those who choose other accommodations due to the boycott.
Terry Caster owns A-1 Self Storage; he and his family donated a total of $693,000 to Proposition 8. Californians Against Hate called a boycott of A-1 Self Storage http://boycotta-1selfstorage.com/ effective November 20, 2008.
Elections Commissions
The LDS Church at first reported that it made only $2,087 worth of nonmonetary contributions to Proposition 8. Californians Against Hate filed a formal complaint against the LDS Church with California Fair Political Practices Commission. A Church spokesperson claimed that the church had spent “zero dollars” on the campaign. But a few months later, the LDS Church changed this to make it $190,000 in nonmonetary. Californians Against Hate contends that the LDS Church spent millions more in nonmonetary contributions. California’s Election Commission continues to investigate the church.In 2009, Californians Against Hate filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
(IRS) against the National Organization for Marriage
National Organization for Marriage
The National Organization for Marriage is a nonprofit political association established in 2007 to work against legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States, specifically to pass California Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage in California...
, saying that NOM had refused to make its IRS 990 forms public, as required by law. CAH representatives went to "the Princeton, New Jersey, offices of the National Organization for Marriage twice to get copies of their IRS 990 reports, to no avail," said CAH's president, Fred Karger. "Then our representative, Ben Katzenberg, sent two certified letters to the NOM office on March 18, 2009, requesting its two 990 forms. Federal law requires NOM to furnish copies of these IRS filings within 30 days after the request has been received. And 40 days later, still no 990s."
A complaint filed by Californians Against Hate also led the Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices to launch an investigation of National Organization for Marriage
National Organization for Marriage
The National Organization for Marriage is a nonprofit political association established in 2007 to work against legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States, specifically to pass California Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage in California...
. Maine law requires organizations that raise more than $5000 for a ballot question campaign file disclosure reports. NOM had contributed $1.6 million to Stand For Marriage Maine, as of October 23, 2009, without revealing its donor’s names. The commission approved an investigation on a 3–2 vote. NOM responded by filing suit, claiming that the state's election laws violate the Constitution. NOM used the likelihood of their suit's success as an argument to obtain a federal restraining order, which would keep them from having to provide donor names before the date of the election; the request was turned down by federal Judge David Brock Hornby. In January 2010, representatives of the group were subpoenaed to appear before the commission. In February, the group requested that those subpoenas be dropped, but the commission voted 4 to 1 to deny that request.
See also
- LGBT rights in the United States
- List of LGBT rights organizations