Landlord's donation to anti-gay marriage group irks some tenants
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SEATTLE -- A landlord's opposition to same-sex marriage has him at odds with many of his Capitol Hill tenants.
Breier-Scheetz Properties recently donated $20,000 to preserve Marriage Washington, becoming one of the largest contributors to the campaign against same-sex marriage.
Now some of the property owner's gay and lesbian tenants are wondering if their rent money is funding a cause they oppose, and are questioning the timing of the contribution.
Kit Bond has rented rooms at the Granada Apartments for three years, but learning his landlord's stance on same-sex marriage is making him think twice.
"It makes me want to move out, and we probably will move out," he said.
Shortly after a tenant held a small fundraiser for Marriage Equality in the building's courtyard, the property owner, Breier-Scheetz Properties, donated funds to preserve Marriage Washington, the campaign opposing Referendum 74 and same-sex marriage.
"He increased our rent recently, said (it was) to pay for aging building. So he can take his profits and donate it to something when half his tenants here might be gay," said Bond.
Breier-Scheetz owns several apartment buildings on Capitol Hill, the core of Seattle's gay and lesbian community. Some consider their landlord's contribution a slap in the face.
But others see it as their landlord's right.
"It probably seems like a slap in the face to them. But if he did not have that right, then it would be a slap in the face to him," said tenant Bob Conahan.
Conahan says though he once lived a gay lifestyle, he supports his landlord's right to put his money where his conscience lies.
"You don't silence people because you disagree with them," Conahan said.
Neither building owner Frederick Scheetz nor the apartment's property manager could be reached for comment.
Before bond moves out, he has a message for his landlord: "Go buy some buildings in Marysville or out in the sticks, away from a community that's made it very clear that this is a gay community and friendly to everybody, straight or not."
Some of the tenants hope to raise more funds than Breier-Scheetz, and are planning another fundraiser for Washington United for Marriage to be held a week from Saturday.
Breier-Scheetz Properties recently donated $20,000 to preserve Marriage Washington, becoming one of the largest contributors to the campaign against same-sex marriage.
Now some of the property owner's gay and lesbian tenants are wondering if their rent money is funding a cause they oppose, and are questioning the timing of the contribution.
Kit Bond has rented rooms at the Granada Apartments for three years, but learning his landlord's stance on same-sex marriage is making him think twice.
"It makes me want to move out, and we probably will move out," he said.
Shortly after a tenant held a small fundraiser for Marriage Equality in the building's courtyard, the property owner, Breier-Scheetz Properties, donated funds to preserve Marriage Washington, the campaign opposing Referendum 74 and same-sex marriage.
"He increased our rent recently, said (it was) to pay for aging building. So he can take his profits and donate it to something when half his tenants here might be gay," said Bond.
Breier-Scheetz owns several apartment buildings on Capitol Hill, the core of Seattle's gay and lesbian community. Some consider their landlord's contribution a slap in the face.
But others see it as their landlord's right.
"It probably seems like a slap in the face to them. But if he did not have that right, then it would be a slap in the face to him," said tenant Bob Conahan.
Conahan says though he once lived a gay lifestyle, he supports his landlord's right to put his money where his conscience lies.
"You don't silence people because you disagree with them," Conahan said.
Neither building owner Frederick Scheetz nor the apartment's property manager could be reached for comment.
Before bond moves out, he has a message for his landlord: "Go buy some buildings in Marysville or out in the sticks, away from a community that's made it very clear that this is a gay community and friendly to everybody, straight or not."
Some of the tenants hope to raise more funds than Breier-Scheetz, and are planning another fundraiser for Washington United for Marriage to be held a week from Saturday.
Excerpt: Before bond moves out, he has a message for his landlord: "Go buy some buildings in Marysville or out in the sticks, away from a community that's made it very clear that this is a gay community and friendly to everybody, straight or not."
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Sure you're friendly to everybody, "straight or not" but it is YOUR COMMUNITY right? Capital Hill can't be for everyone I guess, but it sounds very friendly, unless of course you happen to be from the sticks? That's what I read anyway.
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This kind of sentiment is what just creates more and more division. Does not help the cause. Why didn't you just call the owner a redneck and tell him to go buy a building in toothlessville?
He's perfectly within his rights to do that, but I would be packing my stuff and moving as soon as my lease is up. It's his right to donate to whatever cause he wants, but not with money he made from me!
If I were one of the tenants, I would get a Vote Yes on R74 yard sign or poster & put it up in my window.
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Wouldn't it be amazing to see the majority of the windows "posted" in this way?
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VOTE YES ON R74!!!!!
 @LocalLady That sounds like a great idea.
I wonder if he has declined any applications from same sex partners...
My opinion, the landlord can donate his money to whatever campaign he wants, just like I was free to donate to Washington United for Marriage; but he should not be one bit surprised when he loses tenants who support marriage equality over it, just like Starbucks and Amazon shouldn't be surprised to lose their customers who oppose marriage equality because they support same sex marriage legislation.
Clawed: Attending church is not an excuse to espouse hatred (your ignorant comments about Islam) or judge others (completely contradicting what Jesus told us NOT to do). I speak to God and Jesus Christ regularly...it's called praying. Perhaps some more internal reflection and reading of God's word might be preferable for you over running off at the mouth. Please allow me and everyone else to worry about our own souls as you obviously need to focus on the salvation of your own.
OK Bob, after you exhale all the smoke, and quite the pipe for a while , re read your post, all i can think from reading it is you hate christians  , no one said Jesus hated anything or anyone, this is your excuse to not attend church and continue in your debauchery, and BTW what do you know about Jesus have you talked to him letely?
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and another thing what do you know about Islam, don't you even watch the friggen news? where are all the Moderate Muslims , and why aren't they spaeking out against the rest who are doing all the viloence, just answer this my friend because I haven't heard one darn word out of them, and what jesus hates and God hates products are you talking about I just would like you to substantiate anything you are saying or are you just a trouble making troll?
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I dare you!
So deal with it, or move. Simple.
Sorry, but I will NEVER rent from this property company and will tell everyone that I know which apartments they own and recommend that they find another place to live. This JesusHates⢠and GodHates⢠Products Corporation that the religious right sells from door-to-door isn't anything that helps the any part the teachings of Jesus. But these same people will call for war against Islam because some hateful, killers decide to kill because they believe that every word of their holy as being correct, but then do the same thing when selling the JesusHates⢠and GodHates⢠Products.
@Bob Wagner - the only 'religious' people that I know going from door-to-door are Mormons and Jehovah Witnesses - are you saying they are preaching to kill everybody?Â
 @Bob Wagner Also notice the usual screamers do so while hiding behind a screen name. Â
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Tea bag republicans always out themselves no matter how many screen names they create. Â
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 @Bob Wagner Well said Bob... These religious nuts and republicans have sold hatred in all directions whether it be gays women, the elderly, the sick, the poor and the list goes on. Â
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Its funny because this landlord threw away 20 thousand dollars for no other reason than spite.
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So the tenants win in the end. Â
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@John Tits @Andrew Bush @Bob Wagner -OK, John since they donate and help some, they arent haters? you sir are an idiot! Gays dont have to tolerate intolerance from religious kooks-that time is passed-we are now teh majority-best hope we dont discriminate against you when your kind starts dying off
I'm sorry, where exactly is the "hate" in this article? What overt act of aggression occured? What threat was made? What discriminatory act was commited? What free expression was silenced? What demonstration not allowed?
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Somebody exercised their right to an opinion and donated money to a cause. Sorry Bob, that does not equate to "hate".
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The only "hate" here is the so called "tolerant" and "diverse" pro-gay representatives calling those who have a difference of opinion names and demanding they go somewhere else.Â
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@Bob Wagner HUH??????????? You lost me on this one!!!
The Wiskey Perspective hits the nail on the Flippen head! Peace OUT!
(FormerMarine SGT), OK so when you have no argurement against the substance of what I said , you take the typical liberal stance and start attacking my Gramar, nice move, Â all I say is make one statement that proves my comments wrong "or" even a half way good rebuttle, and remember you guys are the ones who brought the Creator into the arguement, Â
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Why should we give the Gay comunity status as a minority? Why!
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Educate me , and I mean other than 'OK I say verbaily that I am Gay", how would you even prove it? is there a blood test or do I swab somewhere? what is their actual reason for being a minority. and BTW you have not proved any of what I said before as not accurate. Oh and you call me pathetic? Yea that should advance your cause, and stop calling me a biggiot I never said I hated anyone. you still have to prove that you are actually Gay.
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And stop telling me how I think, I challenge you to show me when I said "anyone" thinks "anything" , this is the militant attitude I was talking about , where because I challenged you to prove something and you chose to start name calling.
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Substance that's all I'm asking for where is the substance to your arguement?
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Oh and before you attack my grammar Sorry, I probably misspelled a couple words to sorry for that , I guess I owe you an apology now,  did It hurt your feelings formermarine SGT ? Grow up! And stop with this idea that everything revolves around how YOU have sex!.  ............... it's sick!
 @Clawed I am looking for a simple and straight forward answer to this question, not a rant about gays being obsessed with their own genitalia; why do you oppose gay marriage?Â
Minority status has been designated by the fact that others have seen fit to act and lobby in ways that limit the rights of the minority members' ability to love, live, and exist happily and in peace.And it seems to be you who is obsessed with genitalia and sex, as that seems to be the basis for your condemnation. Gay, straight, bi...all these orientations are about much more than sex; unless your relationship with your wife/husband is based purely on sex/procreation. This is about protecting the rights (thank you for saying in your previous post that rights are rights and should not have 'gay', 'civil' or any other adjectives tacked on to the front; VERY true) of individuals to live and love as their hearts tell them, as you have enjoyed the luxury of doing. I'm glad you apparently agree that gay and lesbian people are about more than just sex (at least that's what your comments would would indicate).
 @Clawed Either you don't know how to use the "reply" button or you are just affraid that @FormerMarineSgt will actually respond if he is notified you responded to him and then you wouldn't have the last word. Given that the "reply" button is a fairly obvious feature, I am betting you just wanted to have the last word on the subject.
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@alaska_dreamin @Clawed @FormerMarineSgt Yes your right I am not familiar with how these social media web sites work, and I am obviously not well schooled, however do know liberal BS when I hear it. and I am not refering to any of your posts and as far being afraid of what anyone posts or will post about me,  such as the likes of Andrew bush, or Former MarineSGT ,,Haa thats funny! I could obviouly debate and of the twenty something crowd who post in this liberal RAG of a web site no one in here has even responded (intellegently) to anything I have said, most of the people in here are half my age and they have ZERO life experience , so bring it on !
 @Clawed If you are so offended by this "liberal RAG of a web site,"  and seem to have such obvious disdain for the who you disagree with, why don't you find one more in line with your conservative views? In any event, at least now you know how to use the "reply" button so you will be far more likely to get a response when you call people out.
I don't get why someone would invest so heavily in area known for things that they oppose. It's like a Jewish man buying a bacon factory.
@therunner It's about business not personal views. Obviously the guy doesn't discriminate since it sounds like there are several gays that live in his building and I'm sure he was well aware of the area when he bought the building since that is somewhat basic 101. He seems like the type who thinks as long as you pay your rent everything is fine and that's how it should be. He is entitled to his views and opinions and how he spends his money is his business. The reason we are not allowed to speak about politics or religion at work is because they know people would end up bumping heads and people are employed to make the company $, it's called business. Owning a rental peoperty is a business and as long as the tenants pay their monthly rent the owner is profiting just like any other business.Â
 @tkyed  @therunner He actually did discriminate - he allowed all previous events to happen in the courtyard (wedding receptions, political events, etc) and then when a lgbt event was requested he said no until they threatened legal action.
 @tkyed  @therunner Kind of how Romney opposes abortions, yet profits from them through Stericycle? Oh, that must mean it is OK then...
seriously, I don't have a problem with the landlord donating to whomever he wants, and if the consequence is that his building is empty because so many people disagree with him- well, that's fine too. Those who wish to move in can do so as well. This is free speech. We all have it, and yes, there are consequences.
tkyed", thank you for somewhat supporting my opinion, funny how the Gays all clammed up.,, like an Ivars Combo Meal,..... seems like when someone gives an arguement with substance and facts,......... they all dissapear.
 @Clawed I think they gave up waiting for you to make a coherent point.
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This isn't a chatroom, don't wait around for people to respond to you in the early hours of the morning.
Personally I could care less if you are gay or straight HOWEVER I do feel that everyone is entitled to their opinion. So if he doesn't agree with the homosexual lifestyle that is his right. To sit there and say you are going to move out of your home because the landlord doesn;t express the same views as you is absolutely ludacris and whatever he decides to spend his money on is his business. Landlords increase rents that's part of life of renting and to sit there and to sit there and to speculate as to why and assume that it must be to fund the preserve WA marriage campaign is ludacris as well.
 @tkyed Isn't it their right to leave? What makes them so crazy? He has a right to make contributions and they have a right to not do business with him any longer. If your landlord actively didn't like you would you still want to help him make money? Of course not. The opposite is what would truly be ludicrous. The man can have his opinion, but as a business owner he must recognize the consequences of such action. If target made an ad campaign saying you were an idiot, would you still shop there? They can be entitled to their opinion but you dont have to support it.
@John A @tkyed They have every right to leave which is exactly what they should do if they feel that someone not having the same views as them is wrong. Just because the landlord doesn't have the same views as one of their tennants doesn't mean that he doesn't like them!! There are a lot of people in my life that I don't have them same views as but i still like them. Personally I think this whole thing is about a few people being overly sensitive.Â
 @tkyed   You are incorrect in your thinking.  Look at it from the tenants' point of view.  The people living in the apartment complex don't want to continue doing business with a landlord who is going to take their money and fund an organization designed to prolong the abolition of equality.  It's not about being overly sensitive.  I would never live somewhere where the land lord used my hard earned rent money to keep me a second class citizen.
Gee, what's the matter,   Cat got your colective tounges ? ..............can't handle the truth? .......... Yea me either.
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I'm not a hater, I just want some common sense to prevail  in the Gay comunity, .......... OK well the comunity in general but as far as these suposed "Gay rights issues", Really no such thing, rights are rights, that's it .
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All. we are just asking you to stop thinking that SEX is everything, Helooooooooo ?
 @Clawed Guess what? Many gay people hold the same opinion as you: the landlord can donate to whatever he pleases. The problem is in the way that you express yourself- people (gay or straight) don't really want to interact with you at all when you talk this way.
ALL BUSINESSES run by HOMOSEXUALS!! Please put a sign on your doors and websites indicating that you are gay and donated to the gay marriage movement so I can boycott you.... It's only fair!!
OK, Truth-no apple products, no microsoft products, no nabisco products, no disney products, no Fords, no use of computers at all (because it was invented by a gay man)-theres a start
OK,  listen all you militant and agressive pro gay folks,  the persuit of happiness does NOTt revolve around your genitillia , and stop useing the term creator unless you want to talk about ALL the things the creator would like ALL of us to live up to and yes I mean strait people too , I know for a fact that eveyone I go to church with would love to have any homosexuals to come and sit right next to them in church , "BUT" the SIN of a homo sexual act is a sexual transgression and before you say anything I will say it is NO different that adultry and premarital sex, or what ever your particular weakness is, simply a transgression,  Sexual orientation NOT one of your civil rights and marriage is talked about in the bible and is clearly between a MAN and a WOMAN,  you can not argue religion suports your sin, it is wrong on any realm you want to discuss it OK how about the laws of nature Hmmmm lets see reproductive ORGAN, let's see...... Oh yea thats for making babies , I almost forgot.
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 if you were born with these thoughts in your head it is no different than me and the things I have to fight off every day,  I am strait , but when I see a beutiful woman , hey I'm a man and I have thoughts and I am able to controll myself, yea I want to do things that I know a re wrong but the reasoning part of my brain takes over and I don't do it , "I am just saying" also anyone can sign a contract with anyone else , NOW thats one thing that the Founding Fathers did make sure we had the right to do, so why aren't the Gays just signing contracts instead of trying to force your life styels on everyone else?   Guess what !........the strait comunity is tierd of your BS!
 @Clawed Wow. Just wow. This rant is so intellectually wrong, so grammatically wrong...there's no place to start. The saying is true. You can't fix stupid.
@WhatRJDid @Clawed - You got that right WhatRJdid.  These folks are truly pathetic. They demand that gays NOT have the same rights they have as straights (to kiss in public, to be able to have an event in a place that sells or leases with the public, etc).
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Listen folks - gays have just as much right to smack lips in public as us straights do. MANY folks don't like public displays of affection between straights - but you still do them anyway. You care less about how you impact them than how 'gays' impact your 'feelings'.
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I love the 'gays are trying to force thier lifestyle on straights' lie. it shows just how out of touch with reality these folks are.
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Gays ARE NOT trying to force thier lifestyle on straights. What gays are trying to do is be able to have thier lifestyle be as visible as your straight lifestyle. If the leveling of playing field causes you pain - TOUGH SH_ _.   They have the same constitutional rights that you do. You cannot change that fact, so start getting used to it.
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You all truly sound just like the old bigoted racists from when I was young - when blacks were daring to get out from under the racist laws and racist rules in society. 'How dare they force themselves upon us' and so on. It's a repeat of the same cries of anguish that you're losing your absolute control over a minority group.
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This is why a minority's rights should never be up for a public vote. "Marriage" just like other milestones in a person's life is something everyone, not just heterosexuals, hope to experience in their lifetimes. These things like the right to seek shelter, the right to seek food, and the right to seek happiness as in finding a mate and getting married are all inalienable rights of life liberty and the pursuit  of happiness that the founding father's speak about. They are things that is supposed to be given to citizens from the creator, not up to a popular vote of the state.Â
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 @Clawed Hooked on phonics or therapy? Both. Lots and lots of both are needed.
@WhatRJDid @Clawed - Is he projecting something that he dares not let himself think or feel? One never knows....
Were the owners political or moral view a consideration when the lease was signed? If not maybe those willing to move out due to this person exercising their rights should have that as a requirement for their next apartment.
"A landlord's opposition to same-sex marriage has him at odds with many of his Capitol Hill tenants." "So he can take his profits and donate it to something when half his tenants here might be gay," So KOMO if "many" or even potentially "half" of his tenants have a problem with this donation, why is it that you could only come up with one that would actually say anything in opposition to the landlord's right to spend his money how ever he see's fit. I used to promote local news outlets as a place you can go to without the worry of journalistic bias. Not any more.
Hey" just a question do any of the people on this site believe in a Boycot against any and all people / busineses that opose the idea of Gay marriage, and how far are you willing to go with this ,........ Just asking?
The building is clearly aging and I would imagine the decision to increase rent was made some time ago. Older buildings have lots of needs, just like older people and the city doesn't help by increasing demands for compliance, not to mention increasing costs for expenses like garbage disposal, etc. Is a rent increase notice in the fall a surprise for anyone who lives in an apartment? I am expecting mine anytime now.
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That aside, it appears Mr. Bond has given public notice of his intention to move. I wish him luck finding another apartment but I really doubt his vacancy will go un-rented anytime soon. Most people don't have a litmus test for their landlords and recognize that even landlords have personal lives and opinions unrelated to their business.
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But the suggestion to look to Marysville is interesting. Mr. Bond and partner might consider that, take their own advice and discover that life "in the sticks" is quite pleasant and the people who live there are quite pleasant, too, and generous and tolerant of others. What irony!Â
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The least tolerant city in this state is Seattle and the closer you get to Capital Hill, the worse it gets.
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@Juliana But that is just not nice to use the truet in your statement..... It gets in the way of a real "good' stoire...... Now the PC poliece will be coming after you.
"Before bond moves out, he has a message for his landlord: "Go buy some buildings in Marysville or out in the sticks, away from a community that's made it very clear that this is a gay community and friendly to everybody, straight or not."
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Seems a little contradictory - Claiming "We are friendly to everybody" as you tell someone to sell their property and go somewhere else because you disagree with them. So Bond is ok with discrimination so long as he is the one doing it? Seems a bit hypocritical to me...Â
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Too bad get over it. It is his right!