LANSING – State and national organizations who represent the LGBT community are expressing outrage over T-shirts bearing the slogan “Straight Pride” offered for sale at a April 10 rally of the Tea Party Express.

The person selling the shirts said that his company was an official sponsor and financial supporter of the Tea Party Express, adding that they typically give 10-15 percent of their sales to the organization.

The shirt was offered for sale at a Capitol rally along with buttons featuring Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and a host of other conservative causes and ideas. The company also offered other T-shirts carrying slogans like “Fox News Fan,” the Second Amendment written out in the shape of a handgun and a drawing of two stick figures with one holding a gun to the head of the other, with the label “socialism.”

Gay advocacy groups say the shirts are reminiscent of the “white pride” slogan adopted by racist groups who oppose equality.

“It’s like white supremacy,” said Penny Gardner, president of the Lansing Association for Human Rights. “It’s as if they are saying the idea of supremacy is some how the American way. The American way is about equality, and equality is all we’re looking for.”

“We are past the time when marginalizing the LGBT community will nurture political power,” added Alicia Skillman, executive director of the merged Michigan Equality/Triangle Foundation. “That type of thinking is narrow and extreme. Our world should have room for multiple expressions of attractionalism but it’s disheartening that there are signs in the Tea Party Tour pointing toward continued marginalization of LGBT persons.”

“It sends a message that this is a cause for a certain group of people,” said David Holtz, executive director of Progress Michigan. “That group is older white people – straight, apparently. It sends the message that if you are not in the group, you really aren’t welcome.”

“What’s troubling is the idea they are getting support and clearly making money off a vendor who is making money off discrimination against gay and lesbian people,” said Holtz. “And they think that’s OK.”

The connection comes as a new University of Washington poll found that of those Americans who supported the Tea Party movement, “only 35 percent believe blacks to be hardworking, only 45 percent believe blacks are intelligent and only 41 percent think that blacks are trustworthy. … When it comes to gays and lesbians, white Tea Party supporters also hold negative attitudes. Only 36 percent think gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to adopt children, and just 17 percent are in favor of same-sex marriage.”

“They are working very hard at being a fringe group, and succeeding,” said Holtz.

Daryl Presgaves, spokesperson for the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network, said the fundraising connection was “a cause for concern.” GLSEN is a national organization working on creating safe school environments for the LGBT students and staff across the country. He said the group was particularly troubled that parents allowed a young man to purchase the T-shirt.

“It’s sad and troubling that some parents instill values of exclusion and teach their children to disrespect and bully those who are different from them,” Presgaves added in a statement. “These shirts promote harassment and bullying of actual or perceived LGBT youth, plain and simple. We hope the parents at the very least have the common sense and decency to not let their children wear such shirts to school.”

“It’s shameful,” said Michael Cole, a spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign. “Homophobia has no place in our country, let alone as a tool for groups to profit from.”

Cole had a message for the candidates who attended the rally Saturday night as well.

“Anyone who is running for office should be mindful of these sorts of practices, because they don’t have a place in our country,” Cole said. “It especially shouldn’t be associated with our elected officials.”

Speaking at the rally were gubernatorial candidates Mike Bouchard and Mike Cox. In addition, Brian Rooney, a candidate vying for the nomination of the Republican party to challenge Mark Schauer, a freshman Democrat from Battle Creek, spoke. Steven Mobley, a candidate for the 62nd district of the state House also addressed the crowd. All of them are Republicans.

This article ran in full in on http://www.michiganmessenger.com.