Rosie O'Donnell has joined gay media
watchdog the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's (GLAAD)
boycott against real-estate mogul Donald Trump.
Trump's opposition to gay rights
prompted GLAAD to ask members to forgo patronizing his
establishments.
O'Donnell, who is openly gay, on
Tuesday announced she would not be renting at a Trump property.
"Rosie O'Donnell has sent an
important message to the majority of Americans - gay and straight -
who don't agree with Donald Trump's statements against marriage
equality for all loving and committed couples," said GLAAD
President Jarrett Barrios in a statement. "Fair-minded people
should think twice about supporting a businessman who courts our
dollars but advocates denying gay and lesbian couples protections
that all families need to take care of each other."
The 64-year-old Trump announced he's
considering a run for the White House as a Republican during an
appearance at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference
(CPAC).
He's mounted a campaign to win over GOP
voters in early caucus states New Hampshire and Iowa, which tend to
prefer socially conservative candidates.
GLAAD said Trump's opposition to gay
rights – he
opposes both civil unions and marriage for gay couples – is
behind their decision to ask members to turn their backs on the
billionaire celebrity with political aspirations.
“Trump has taken to disparaging the
families of gay and lesbian couples as a tactic to get attention for
his candidacy,” the
group said at its Tune
Out Trump campaign.
“Using Trump's own famous catch phrase, we would like to tell him,
“You're fired!”
The campaign asks supporters to stop
patronizing Trump establishments and television shows, including many
buildings in New York City, casinos in Atlantic City, Fox News' Fox
and Friends and NBC's Celebrity Apprentice.