PALM SPRINGS, Calif., Oct. 8, 2009 — He originally donated thousands of dollars in support of the National Equality March on Washington, D.C., coming up on Oct. 11, 2009, but today, artist, gay activist and author Charles Merrill ) is calling upon the gay community to cancel the march.
Merrill cites several reasons for his surprising change of heart. First, the Respect for Marriage Act was recently introduced by New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler and 91 co-sponsors. If signed into law, the Respect for Marriage Act will repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and give legally married same-sex couples the same rights now enjoyed by heterosexual married couples.
"In view of the recent action by Congressman Nadler," explained Merrill, who has protested DOMA and called for its repeal since it was signed into law 13 years ago, "I have no reason to march and do not wish to inflame Congress or the President by doing so."
But Merrill's plea to the LGBT community to cancel the National Equality March altogether stems from what he sees as a disturbing — and ultimately damaging — association between LGBT activists and Marxist march organizers Cleve Jones and Sherry Wolf.
Merrill, a Democrat and a capitalist who has long worked to secure equal rights for LGBT people, believes Wolf and Jones are using the march as a platform to further their own socialist agenda. The overwhelming majority of LGBTs are Democrats who support the free enterprise system, not socialists or Marxists, and Merrill fears all gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons could end up portrayed as socialists as a result of participating in the National Equality March — and if that happens, President Obama is likely to further distance himself from the LGBT community.
Merrill articulated his concerns in a posting on gay news blog Queerty.com: "LGBTs going to the march are going to be branded as Communists because of socialist propaganda from march organizers Sherry Wolf and Cleve Jones," Merrill wrote. "Both are giving a major workshop on socialism scheduled at the march. Wait till Glen Beck and FOX hear about this dizzy propaganda."
The only way for the LGBT community to avoid alienating lawmakers and escape the Communist label, says Merrill, is to cancel the National Equality March completely. The 75-year-old activist won't be attending, and he hopes other LGBTs follow his example.
For more information about Charles Merrill, visit . A photo of Merrill is available at http://www.pressreleaseheadlines.com/Charles-Merrill.jpg.
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