Victory Fund condemns homophobic attack ad against city councilman

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund this afternoon condemned homophobic attack against Scott Hines, a city councilman in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

The response was prompted by the mailing of a photograph to an unknown number of residences in Hines council district. 

The image was of Hines without a shirt. There also was a pot leaf, as well as text that read, “Send Hines Packing Back to Palm Springs (where he belongs).

Additional  text, in a rainbow of colors, said, “No More ‘Fab’ Party GUY scotty.”

Torey Carter, chief operating officer of the Victory Fund, said in a statement, “We stand with Councilman Hines in solidarity against these egregious campaign tactics that focus on Hines’ sexual orientation — these types of tactics should never be tolerated for any candidate. Councilman Hines has a long track record of supporting the LGBT community and we are proud to have endorsed his re-election campaign.”

Hines was elected in 2010 and has served as a member of the council and also as mayor.

The Victory Fund said, “He is an advocate for the homeless, senior citizens and low-income children.”

Hines also was an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force and part of an elite special operations team. He also served at the Pentagon in the Offices of the Air Force Chief of Staff and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Hines was discharged under the former federal military policy of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

The Victory Fund was founded to help prepare openly LGBT people to run for office and to rally support for their campaigns.