Is it time the taxman come for GLAAD?

Last week the radical activist organization GLAAD released a “fact sheet” for reporters ahead of the Republican National Convention, a move that could very well put their tax-exempt nonprofit organization status at risk.

GLAAD–or Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation–was founded as a media watchdog group to monitor negative representations of gay men and lesbians in entertainment and news. But for decades, critics say the group has operated as little more than a mouthpiece for the Democrat Party, rehashing anti-Republican talking points and spending millions to churn out the LGBT vote solely in the service of Democrats.

And it does all of this at a loss for taxpayers under the guise of nonpartisanship.

There are many tax status labels that nonprofits can hold, and each status comes with its own set of IRS established rules regarding political involvement. According to Charity Watch, a watchdog website for nonprofits and charities alike, GLAAD is labeled as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, perhaps the most commonly known tax status of America’s nonprofits.

The Internal Revenue Code as stipulated by the IRS states that organizations with a 501(c)3 status cannot interfere in political campaigns either in a proponent or opponent fashion. The Restriction of Political Campaign Intervention by Section 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations on the IRS website clearly states, “Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity.”

The rule goes further to define the kinds of political intervention that are not allowed. “[V]oter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention,” the restriction lays out.

A fact sheet for reporters can be described as “voter education”. Any special interest group can do their research for a journalist and present facts with citations to help their reporting. Of course, any ethical reporter would verify the veracity of the facts. And the facts accumulated by the nonprofit must not show clear bias in an upcoming political campaign. GLAAD’s “fact sheet” fails to meet that standard.

GLAAD’s bullet-point list of misleading propaganda masquerading as a “fact sheet”, at first glance, seems innocent enough. After all, there is nothing wrong with stating facts pertinent to the goal of an organization. However, even the title of the erroneous list gives away the clear and immediate bias of the radical group. In all capital letters, the list’s title reads: “Fact Sheet for Reporters: Accurate and Inclusive Coverage of LGBTQ People and Issues During the Republican National Convention and Nomination of Donald Trump”. If they have to insist that the information is “accurate” and “inclusive”, take it as a sign that it is not.

Even if one were to look past the blatant anti-Trump bias in the title, some of the listed items really seal the deal. Most items on the list are misleading and biased statements about President Trump’s first term in office. Being charitable, one could argue that these “facts” are just a retelling of past events, not a prediction of future ones seeking to persuade voters.  However, some items are blatantly engaging in persuasion.

One item in the list refers to federal funding for schools pushing transgender and highly sexualized ideology on children. “In his current campaign, Trump has promised to defund schools that support transgender students’ safety,” one item reads. The scare tactics and spin of the truth by insinuating that Trump wishes to put children in danger is not only reprehensibly dishonest, but it is blatant intervention in a political campaign.

A second and more ludicrous example is in GLAAD’s presumption of the Republican Vice Presidential candidate. This list was written and published before JD Vance was officially announced as Trump’s running mate. The list instructs reporters to highlight any anti-LGBT aspect of the potential nominee. “Any story about Trump’s Vice President should note their anti-LGBTQ history,” one bullet point reads. Not only are they assuming that the VP nominee would have an anti-LGBT record, but they are demanding that reporters directly campaign against whoever that person turns out to be. This is an obvious direct violation of GLAAD’s nonprofit tax-exempt status.

As a punishment for violating the IRS’s rules, GLAAD would lose their tax-exempt status. The rule states, “Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.” This would mean that GLAAD would have to start paying income tax on their donations. Furthermore, all of the big-wig Democrat donors to GLAAD would no longer be able to write off their donations to the organization on their taxes. This undoubtedly would be a major blow the alphabet mob propaganda powerhouse.

Of course, in order for GLAAD to be held responsible for their actions, the IRS would have to investigate and come to its own decision. Seeing as how the IRS is under the direction of the executive branch and the current Biden-Harris administration, and the dishonest and unethical work of GLAAD favors whoever the Democratic presidential nominee will be, it is highly unlikely the organization will be punished. A future Trump-Vance administration would be a horse of a different color.

More than half of the items listed on GLAAD’s “fact sheet” centered around trans issues— gays and lesbians were not affected at all. It seems that GLAAD has sold out the gays and lesbians of America for their trans and non-binary darlings. A homosexual voting block for the Republican ticket would be an appropriate middle finger to an organization that no longer sees us as a fundraising opportunity. And considering that gay rights are no longer a political issue with the new inclusive Republican Party platform, GLAAD no longer serves a useful purpose. Let it fall.