Public Advocate of the United States, a non-profit advocacy group supporting traditional marriage, was sued by SPLC attorneys who were representing two homosexuals who were in dispute with the organization because of its position opposing same-sex marriage. In that case, SPLC lawyers recklessly posted the home address of Public Advocate's President, Eugene Delgaudio, in a pleading that was available to the public as part of the record of the case.
After SPLC attorneys refused a request to immediately remove the home address, Public Advocate asked the Court to order its removal and to bar SPLC's use of his address in other ways. The Court granted Public Advocate's motion, ordering SPLC attorneys to file a redacted version so that the private address would not be disclosed.
The SPLC labeled Public Advocate an "anti-gay hate group" much like it did the conservative Family Research Council (FRC) group which was later attacked by a homosexual activist who shot and wounded a security guard. During the investigation of that crime, the Federal Bureau of Investigation informed Public Advocate that the shooter had a list of pro-Family organizations which included their name. Even more alarming is that the same man responsible for the FRC shooting had been seen at the Public Advocate's office.
The head of the FRC, Tony Perkins, later blamed the SPLC for the incident, saying that their irresponsible practice of labeling anyone who opposes their viewpoint as a "hate group" gave the gunman " a license" to commit violence.
The judge agreed and the SPLC was forced to redact the address.
However, Delgaudio is still concerned about his safety and that of his family.
"Although I am still concerned, as the President of an organization that the Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled an 'Anti-Gay hate group,' that my family and I are at risk from violence by certain deranged people who are inspired to such acts against persons that the SPLC is targeting, I am relieved that the Court ordered that SPLC remove my home address from their filing in the Colorado litigation.
"The SPLC lawyers had Public Advocate's office address and phone number, and had no reason to reveal my home address. Yet, I was not surprised, as such practices are consistent with SPLC's goal of intimidation of pro-family activists. SPLC attaches odious labels to persons or organizations with which they disagree, regardless of the effect such dangerous rhetoric may have on certain unbalanced people -- like the domestic terrorist who attacked the FRC. I believe that such SPLC practices, at the very least, constitute reckless endangerment of pro-family leaders. If there is a category of Hate-Inciting Groups, SPLC would top the list."
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