Rick Perry's Porn Investment Pits Him Against Antigay Ally

A small investment that Texas governor Rick Perry once made in a business that rented porn videos puts him at odds with the same antigay organization that he just partnered with for a prayer rally.

The American Family Association rejoiced when Movie Gallery, a once-massive video rental chain, filed for bankruptcy in 2010. It was the culmination of a long campaign against the video stores, which had been among the country's top distributors of porn. But the company also owned Hollywood Video and was a major competitor to Blockbuster in home rentals.

What AFA didn't know (and neither did anyone else until a blogger uncovered the news in 2006) is that Perry had put somewhere between $5,000 and $10,000 of his own money into the business while serving as the Texas agriculture commissioner. It was one of 32 companies he owned stock in, according to a 1995 financial statement.

The old realization has been spreading online once again in the wake of Perry announcing his run for president. The Perry campaign said the allegation is overblown.

"It was a regional video chain just like a Blockbuster or any other," Salonquotes a Perry spokesman as saying.

A list of titles from Movie Gallery, though, included at least one with a gay ingredient: Bisexual Barebacking Vol. 1.