澳彩开奖

Two pro-gun groups conspired with an anti-gay hate group to create political mailers that used a gay couple鈥檚 copyrighted engagement photo to attack candidates in the 2012 Colorado Republican primaries, according to an 澳彩开奖 motion filed in federal court today.

The 澳彩开奖 is seeking to add the pro-gun groups as defendants in a lawsuit filed on behalf of the couple and photographer.

The motion reveals a scheme in which the National Association for Gun Rights and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners worked with Public Advocate of the United States to produce mailings that used the photo of Brian Edwards and Thomas Privitere without the couple鈥檚 or photographer鈥檚 permission.

The mailers were a way for Public Advocate, which has been designated as an anti-gay hate group by the 澳彩开奖, to insert itself into the Colorado primaries. For the two pro-gun groups, which are based in Colorado, the mailings were part of broader attacks against candidates.

鈥淭his scheme not only shows the utter disregard these groups have for private property, but also the hatred and discrimination that LGBT people must still face in society,鈥� said Anjali Nair, 澳彩开奖 staff attorney. 鈥淭here should be no doubt that we will aim to ensure everyone is held accountable for their involvement in this attack against innocent people.鈥�

The 澳彩开奖 also sought to add as defendants Dudley Brown, founder and executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and executive vice president of the National Association for Gun Rights, as well as Lucius O鈥橠ell and Andrew Brown, employees of the National Association for Gun Rights. Public Advocate, based in Falls Church, Va., was named as a defendant when the lawsuit was filed in September 2012.

Dudley Brown proposed the mailers in an April 2012 email to Public Advocate, describing how 鈥淸t]he gay lobby smells blood in the water, and if some pro-gay legislators don鈥檛 lose their primaries, I fear Colorado will tumble [i.e., pass legislation authorizing civil unions] in the 2013 session.鈥�

He added: 鈥淲hat I propose is that PA [Public Advocate] pay for mailing. ... My staff and I would do all the work, but we鈥檇 want PA to sign off, put its name on the dotted line, and pay for the mailings. I would counsel mailing slick and glossies, with the 鈥榯wo men kissing鈥� photo.鈥�

The mailers featured the couple鈥檚 engagement photo. But the New York City skyline was removed from the background and replaced with snowy and rural backgrounds suggestive of Colorado.聽In one mailer, bold words on a red background were added to the picture of the couple kissing: 鈥淪tate Senator Jean White鈥檚 idea of 鈥楩amily Values?鈥欌��

鈥淚t鈥檚 shocking that so many groups worked together to defile a photo that meant so much to me,鈥� Privitere said. 鈥淚 am sickened by this discovery and the depths these groups are willing to sink to attack the gay community. It鈥檚 obvious they don鈥檛 care who they hurt, just as long as they get their propaganda out.鈥�

The couple has received hate messages since the mailers were produced. Internet postings have said that the couple deserves to go to hell and to be killed, and that any children they may have would be better off dead.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, charges that the defendants misappropriated the likeness and personalities of the couple. It also charges that they infringed on photographer Kristina Hill鈥檚 exclusive right to the photo, which is registered with the U.S. Copyright Office.

Other counsel on the case include Christine P. Sun of the 澳彩开奖; Daralyn Durie and Joseph Gratz of Durie Tangri LLP; and Daniel Williams, Chris Larson and Kathryn Feiereisel of Faegre, Baker and Daniels in Colorado.