NEW BLACKLIST: S.F. Chronicle Columnist Says Tactics Against Traditional Marriage-Backer 'Go Too Far'

Chip Johnson in the San Francisco Chronicle:

I certainly understand the anger fomented by one individual’s generous contribution to the clearly mean-spirited campaign of Proposition 8. But, I’m not so sure I agree with the message being sent by gay and lesbian activists in the case of 96-year-old Lorenzo Hoopes.

96 year-old Lorenzo Hoopes

The civic-minded Oakland citizen – with more than 50 years’ experience in public service – is currently the target of gay-rights activists who say his $26,000 contribution in support of the 2008 ballot initiative that reversed the state’s same-sex marriage law makes him unfit to hold public office.

And to make their point, critics have launched a campaign to block his reappointment to the board of directors of the Paramount Theatre, a city-owned landmark in downtown Oakland.

On its face, the campaign to remove Hoopes from an inconsequential seat on an inconsequential public board appears to be as mean-spirited as the same-sex marriage ban itself. Hoopes, who is Mormon, wasn’t on anyone’s radar screen until after the ballot initiative won voter approval in November 2008.

Since then, his reappointment has become such a hot-button issue that Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums withdrew Hoopes’ nomination from the Oakland City Council’s agenda package this week.

Read the full article here.