Triangle Foundation unveils ad campaign aimed at hate crimes

FERNDALE, Mich. (AP) - A gay advocacy group yesterday unveiled an ad campaign designed to promote reporting of anti-gay crimes and harassment.

The Detroit-based Triangle Foundation said it will help distribute 1,000 posters throughout Michigan as part of a campaign titled ''Because Words Lead to Violence.''

The posters will be displayed in places where gay people gather - including centers and entertainment places like Cobalt, a Ferndale nightclub where the poster was first displayed to the media yesterday.

''This is particularly important in a state as large as Michigan ... especially in a community that does not have a gay advocacy group it can turn to,'' said Jeffrey Montgomery, executive director of the Triangle Foundation.

Montgomery said the group also plans a radio ad campaign. The Triangle Foundation would like to advertise on television, but he said the idea ''has been met with a great amount of resistance from TV stations because it would be controversial.''

Three other anti-violence programs have contacted the Triangle Foundation wanting to duplicate the campaign, Montgomery said.

The poster, designed by Jabo Design of Troy, depicts eight people with different offensive terms emblazoned on their bodies. At the bottom is a telephone number that victims of hate crimes can call to report an incident.

''This is an empowering poster,'' said Scott Marquardt of Ferndale, whose picture appears on the poster. ''I'm proud to be a part of it.''

Marquardt's face is shown with a derogatory term referring to gays displayed on his forehead.

Harry Knox, executive director of the Atlanta-based Georgia Equality Project, a gay rights political group, said the Triangle Foundation's efforts are unique for a statewide organization.

''It makes clear that the targets of gay-related violence are people you see everyday,'' Knox said. ''It sends a message to gay people that they should report hate crimes.''