How Gay Activism Shapes U.S. Politics

http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=4276

By Heather Sells
CBN News Reporter

He’s considered to be America’s biggest gay donor. And his out-of-the-box political strategies are http://www.wvwnews.net/story.php?id=2030 public policy in the areas of marriage, family and gay rights.

You probably haven’t heard the name Tim Gill. And that’s just the way he wants it.

Carrie Earll, Senior Director of Issues Analysis for Focus on the Family explains, “Tim Gill is stealth. He’s under the radar. When he goes after a candidate he doesn’t make homosexuality the issue. He picks something else because he knows the issue of homosexuality is still risky among the electorate.”

A Colorado native, Gill still calls Denver home. He made his millions in the 80s and 90s as the founder of the publishing software giant Quark.

But in 2000, he moved to full-time philanthropy.

Gill favors giving to main-stream charities like the Denver Aquarium. He ties the money to so-called “non-discrimination” policies and establishes himself as a community pillar.

But it’s in the area of politics where his giving is starting to get the most attention.Earll says, “His strategy is to go after the young, up-and-coming conservative, to knock them out early and to send a message of intimidation and fear to other conservatives.”

Gill’s giving to candidates and causes began in 2000. According to Atlantic Monthly, it started with $300,000, then $800,000 in ’02 — and a whopping $5 million in ’04.

http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/361991.aspx

2008-04-23