I saw this on Pam’s House Blend, however the origin posting is on Ex-Gay Watch and linked here:
According to the IRS documentation on revocations (PDF), AFTAH can no longer be considered a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and there is no process for appeal. Donations made to them before 6/10/2011 are still deductible by donors, though any income after revocation may be taxed and require filing of a federal return. LaBarbera appears to have been aware of all this, as the donations section of the AFTAH website no longer claims tax-exempt status.
The entire Ex-Gay Watch article is worth reading, however it raises some interesting questions.
- Robert’s post notes the income and expense comparisons with Exodus, another ex-gay organization. I think the income levels seem low, which lead me to wonder why LaBarbera gets so much attention from the media.
- If these income levels are accurate, it says that the anti-gay forces which can be so vocal are perhaps even smaller than one might think. It shouldn’t be that hard therefor to eliminate any threat they pose by simply out performing them by getting more LGBT positive material into the media. I wholly believe in free speech, so I have no personal intention to stifle LaBarbera’s speech. Rather, I believe that we need to match lie and misrepresentation with the truth and real personal experience. The more we place out in the media about the real lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans persons, the less power hateful lies by the likes of LaBarera can have.
- Lastly, do you think that the folks who give to a guy like LaBarbera care if he is tax exempt or not?
What do you think? Leave a comment!
via IRS Revokes Peter LaBarbera’s AFTAH Tax Exempt Status | Ex-Gay Watch.