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MONTCLAIR — Brian Edwards and Tom Privitere have always considered Brooklyn their second home because that's where they shared their first apartment together more a decade ago.

So when they decided to marry two years ago, an engagement photo along the borough’s waterfront — with the Brooklyn Bridge as the backdrop — seemed like a perfect expression of their love for one another. The black and white picture of the holding hands and leaning toward one another for a kiss is among their favorites.

But two weeks ago, the Montclair couple received a call from a friend telling them their treasured photograph had been altered and affixed to an anti-gay political ad used to attack a state Senate candidate in Colorado.

"When I first saw it, I didn’t know how to feel. But soon, my shock turned to anger and that was followed by sadness," Privitere, 37, said in an interview Friday. "They took this image that meant one thing — love, family, commitment — and used it to convey the complete opposite — hate, fear and bigotry."

The photo was lifted from Edwards’ wedding blog by Public Advocate of the United States, a Virginia organization the Southern Poverty Law Center has flagged as an anti-gay hate group.

The altered photo eliminated the Brooklyn Bridge background and replaced it with snow-covered Evergreen trees — the type you might find in Colorado. "State Senator Jean White’s idea of ‘Family Values?’" reads the ad, which was mailed to Colorado voters.

White, an incumbent Republican who represented several counties in northwestern Colorado, lost her primary election more than a year after voting in favor of civil unions for gay couples.

The couple and their wedding photographer, Kristina Hill, are preparing a lawsuit against Public Advocate and its president, Eugene Delgaudio, claiming copyright infringement, misappropriation of image and infliction of emotional harm, said Christine Sun, a lawyer from the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Sun has sent a letter to the Virginia organization ordering it to cease-and-desist use of the image because they were never granted permission to use it. The group has about a week to respond.

"For years, Delguadio and Public Advocate have led a crusade against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people," Sun said. "This latest attack is the most vicious yet and should serve as a warning that your personal photos are not safe from anyone willing to stoop to the vilest level of harassment."

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Delguadio told ABCNews.com he is "looking into the matter," but has not yet received the letter. Delguadio is a member of the supervisors in Virginia’s Loudon County.

"I am searching whether or not we have the photo," Delguadio said, noting that another member of his group could have selected and edited the photo without telling him. "I have not commented on this ever and I have no statements on it."

Efforts by The Star-Ledger to contact Delguadio were unsuccessful.

The law center flagged Public Advocate for disseminating anti-gay literature that compares marriage equality to bestiality and describes gay people as pedophiles and rapists, among other accusations.

Edwards, a college administrator, and Privitere, a ticket broker, were legally married in Connecticut and said this experience makes them want to become more involved in the fight for marriage equality in New Jersey. The couple have been together for 12 years.

"All gay people have to be activists, especially in situations like this," said Edwards, 32. "We don’t want to see this happen again to any other couple — gay, lesbian or straight."

Related coverage:

• Montclair couple threatens lawsuit after their photo is used in anti-gay mailer