Antigay group
blasts National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

The right-wing Family Research Council is blasting an agreement between the federal Department of the Interior and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The chamber announced the so-called Memorandum of Understanding in June, saying it would "provide more opportunities" for gay-owned businesses to bid for vendor contracts with Department of Interior agencies like the Park Service and the Bureau of Reclamation. The agreement calls for the chamber to help the Department's "Disadvantaged Business" office with its outreach to the gay population. But last week Family Research Council president Tony Perkins denounced what he called an attempt to give gay businesses "preferential treatment." He wrote to FRC members that Interior had "ignored statutory laws" and suggested that the president or Congress should step in. On Tuesday the chamber fought back, calling the FRC e-mail a "shameful display of bigotry." The chamber said its agreement was signed simply to "educate gay and lesbian business owners about opportunities to do business with the department." (Sirius OutQ News)