National drug companies accused of gay-bashing

From 365gay.com

The largest pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in the country - among them the major makers of HIV/AIDS drugs - are the main sponsors of an attack ad that slams the ARP over Social Security by attempting to link the AARP to same-sex marriage.

The ads were produced for USA Next, a public advocacy group whose members have been linked to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads that challenged the war record of last November's Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry....

"I have no reason to believe that this attempt to scapegoat GLBT individuals reflects the views of PhRMA's member companies," said Rep. Frank. "But since PhRMA has helped pay for this advertising by USA Next, we think it is appropriate to ask them to repudiate this act and to take steps to prevent its repetition."

Among the members of PhRMA are 3M Pharmaceuticals, Abbott Laboratories, Bayer Corporation, Biogen. Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GE Healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck and Procter & Gamble.

"Degrading millions of gay and lesbian families is a sad way for any person or organization to get their message out," said Chuck Wolfe, president & CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Leadership Institute.