Gay presidential candidate wins early ruling against conservative group

Gay presidential candidate Fred Karger won a preliminary bout in a discrimination complaint against the American Conservative Union Foundation.

The District of Columbia Office of Human Rights recently denied ACUF’s motion to throw out Karger’s complaint alleging that it had discriminated against the Republican candidate on the basis of his sexual orientation. Karger alleges that ACUF deprived him of a booth and speaking spot at the Conservative Political Action Conference because he is gay.

The ACUF argues for a dismissal, claiming that the foundation doesn’t run CPAC and, regardless, it has a First Amendment right to choose speakers at its events.

The ACUF also said its disagreement with Karger is over his support of marriage equality, not his personal sexual orientation.

However, Gustavo Velasquez, the district’s human rights chief, concluded that an investigation of Karger’s exclusion from CPAC is warranted.

Karger describes himself as a political insider who went to outsider status. His campaign biography states:

“Fred Karger was the first to announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president of the United States on March 23, 2011.

“Throughout his career, Karger has worked on nine presidential campaigns and served as a senior consultant on campaigns for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Gerald Ford.

“He retired after 27 years and has since become an activist for gay rights causes, including his organization Californians Against Hate (now Rights Equal Rights) to investigate the LDS Church and the National Organization for Marriage in their campaigns against marriage equality in California and Maine.

“Karger is the first openly gay presidential candidate from a major political party in American history.”

He also has a reputation for a good sense of humor. Take a look at Karger’s “Pee-Wee Romney” ad.

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