This Giving Tuesday, help ensure voters have the information they need to make confident, informed decisions. Donate now!
Rights Equal Rights
| Rights Equal Rights | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Los Angeles, California |
| Year founded: | 2008 |
| Website: | Official website |
Rights Equal Rights was an advocacy group that organized a boycott related to California Proposition 8. As of November 2025, the group was listed as an active nonprofit by the California Department of Justice, but its social media accounts were inactive.
Background
The group Californians Against Hate was founded in 2008 after Proposition 8 qualified for the ballot. The group's website said it "wanted to draw attention to the major donors to the Yes on 8 campaign."[1] In July, 2010, the group announced it would be changing its name to Rights Equal Rights.[2]
Leadership
The group's 2024 filings with the California Department of Justice listed Fred Karger as president of Rights Equal Rights.[3]
Work and activities
Electoral activities and influence
After Proposition 8 was placed on the ballot in California in 2008, Californians Against Hate announced a boycott of business owners who supported the measure. That included two San Diego hotels, a self-storage company, and other businesses.[4][5] The group also published a list of individuals who donated more than $500 in support of Proposition 8.[6]
Karger and Californians Against Hate filed an ethics complaint against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California, arguing they failed to disclose nonmonetary contributions in support of Proposition 8.[7] The church was ultimately fined $5,539 by the California Fair Political Practices Commission.[8] Rights Equal Rights later supported a campaign by Karger in 2017 to revoke the LDS church's tax-exempt status because of their political involvement opposing same-sex marriage.[9]
Karger and Californians Against Hate also filed ethics complaints in California, Hawaii, Iowa, and Maine against the National Organization for Marriage, which opposed same-sex marriage in several states, alleging campaign finance violations related to ballot measures in those states.[10][11] NOM was fined $50,250 in 2014 by the Maine Ethics Commission.[12]
Notable endorsements
This section displays endorsements this organization made in elections within Ballotpedia's coverage scope. Know of one we missed? Click here to let us know.
Finances
In 2024, Rights Equal Rights had total revenue of $59,824 and total expenses of $62,125, according to filings with the California Department of Justice.[3]
Noteworthy events
Subpoena of records (2009)
Karger was served with a subpoena on September 5, 2009, that required him to produce all emails, correspondence, faxes, and website information dealing with his Californians Against Hate activities going back to January 1, 2008. He was also required to provide financial records, details on how he obtained information for his research on supporters of Proposition 8, and information about how he disseminated his research. The subpoena came after a complaint Karger filed with the California Fair Political Practices Commission, asking the FPPC to look into his belief that supporters of Proposition 8 engaged in money laundering. Proposition 8 supporters filed a lawsuit in response to Karger's complaint, which led to the subpoena.[13]
FPPC complaint against Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints (2008)
Karger filed a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) in November 2008, alleging that the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints failed to report nonmonetary contributions to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign.
In the complaint, Karger says that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints failed to report money it invested to "organize phone banks, send out direct mailers, provide transportation to California, mobilize a speakers bureau, send out satellite simulcasts and develop Web sites as well as numerous commercials and video broadcasts."[14]
A spokesperson for the LDS church said that the church had "fully complied with the reporting requirements of the California Political Reform Act" and that "any investigation would confirm the church's full compliance with applicable law." The church spokesperson also said Karger's complaint contained errors and incorrect information.[14]
The California Fair Political Practices Commission fined the LDS church $5,539 in June 2010 for unreported donations in support of Proposition 8 .[15]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Californians Against Hate, "About," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ Californians Against Hate, "We're Changing Our Name," July 8, 2010
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 California Department of Justice, "Californians Against Hate," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ OB Rag, "Californians Against Hate Plan March & Boycott Against Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel," July 16, 2008
- ↑ Gay and Lesbian Times, "Boycott staged against A-1 Self Storage Company," November 20, 2008
- ↑ Rights Equal Rights, "About Us," accessed November 17, 2025
- ↑ The New York Times, "Inquiry Set on Mormon Aid for California Marriage Vote," November 25, 2008
- ↑ CBS News, "Mormon Church Fined In Connection With Anti-Gay Marriage Campaign," June 9, 2010
- ↑ The Salt Lake Tribune, "LGBT activist plans ad blitz targeting Mormon church’s tax-exempt status," January 3, 2017
- ↑ Bangor Daily News, "Anti-gay marriage group sues state," October 22, 2009
- ↑ The Advocate, "Op-ed: NOM Can’t Shut Me Down," March 13, 2014
- ↑ Maine Public Radio, "Maine Panel Hits Anti-Gay Marriage Group with Record Fine," May 29, 2014
- ↑ Advocate, "Activist Subpoenaed By NOM," September 24, 2009
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Salt Lake Tribune, "Probe into LDS Church's Prop 8 donations going forward," November 25, 2008
- ↑ Politico, "Mormons fined in marriage fight," June 9, 2010
| |||||||
