Metro Weekly

Knights of Columbus funnels $1.25 million into anti-gay marriage effort in California

”From the day we were founded 126 years ago, strengthening and protecting the family has always been central to the mission of the Knights of Columbus. Preserving marriage as the indispensable institution in which children are conceived, born and raised to adulthood by a loving father and mother is vital to a healthy society. It is also the most favorable environment in which to protect the rights and best interests of children. We are proud to join the Catholic bishops and priests of California, and so many other people of good will, in this effort, on which so much depends.”

Patrick Korten, a spokesman for the Knights of Columbus which is a Catholic fraternal organization that promotes charity and support among member families in need. Their official dress is notable for their fondness of wearing colorful capes and elaborately feathered hats. And it would appear that they are continuing a grudge against same-sex marriage that began in 2003 with a lesbian couple, Tracey Smith and Deborah Chymyshynto, renting a hall that was owned by the British Columbia Knights of Columbus. The Knights were later fined by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal in 2005 for refusing in an undignified way to honor a paid agreement with the lesbians to hold their wedding reception at the hall. (Knights of Columbus)

Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism

These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!