The_AT0 White_AJ0 House’s_NP0 announcement_NN1 of_PRF Miller’s_NP0 nomination_NN1 described_VVD Miller_NP0 and_CJC Gill_NP0 as_PRP “_NP0 the_AT0 largest_AJS contributors_NN2 to_PRP LGBTQ_NP0 equality_NN1 in_PRP history_NN1 ,_PUN having_VHG donated_VVN hundreds_CRD of_PRF millions_CRD of_PRF dollars_NN2 to_PRP the_AT0 cause_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 
U.S._NP0 President_NP0 Joe_NP0 Biden’s_NP0 choice_NN1 for_PRP ambassador_NN1 to_PRP Switzerland_NP0 is_VBZ Scott_NP0 Miller_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 leading_AJ0 figure_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 LGBT_NP0 advocacy_NN1 group_NN1 The_AT0 Gill_NP0 Foundation_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 foundation_NN1 has_VHZ funded_VVN groups_NN2 that_CJT have_VHB split_VVN Christian_AJ0 denominations_NN2 and_CJC threatened_AJ0 religious_AJ0 freedom_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 U.S._NP0 Miller’s_NP0 same-sex_AJ0 partner_NN1 is_VBZ Tim_NP0 Gill_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 vocal_AJ0 LGBT_NN1 activist_NN1 and_CJC strategist_NN1 who_PNQ ,_PUN after_PRP the_AT0 2016_CRD election_NN1 ,_PUN claimed_VVD his_DPS movement_NN1 was_VBD headed_VVN into_PRP conservative_AJ0 states_NN2 to_PRP “_NP0 punish_VVB the_AT0 wicked_AJ0 ._SENT ”_NP0 
Miller_NP0 is_VBZ a_AT0 former_DT0 finance_NN1 executive_NN1 and_CJC co-chairs_VVZ the_AT0 board_NN1 of_PRF directors_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 Colorado-based_AJ0 Gill_NP0 Foundation_NN1 with_PRP Gill_NP0 ._SENT 
Among_PRP the_AT0 critics_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 foundation’s_NN2 work_NN1 is_VBZ John_NP0 Lomperis_NP0 ,_PUN United_NP0 Methodist_AJ0 Director_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 Institute_NN1 on_PRP Religion_NN1 and_CJC Democracy_NN1 ._SENT Lomperis_NP0 told_VVD CNA_NP0 Aug._NP0 13_CRD that_CJT the_AT0 Gill_NP0 Foundation_NN1 “_NN1 has_VHZ gone_VVN beyond_PRP just_AV0 supporting_VVG Democratic_AJ0 sides_NN2 of_PRF traditional_AJ0 Democratic-Republican_AJ0 political_AJ0 divides_NN2 or_CJC even_AV0 pushing_VVG civil_AJ0 redefinition_NN1 of_PRF marriage_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 
“_VVB The_AT0 foundation_NN1 has_VHZ shown_VVN an_AT0 extremist_AJ0 hostility_NN1 to_PRP basic_AJ0 freedom-of-conscience_NN1 protections_NN2 for_PRP those_DT0 who_PNQ do_VDB not_XX0 morally_AV0 approve_VVI of_PRF same-sex_AJ0 unions_NN2 ._SENT This_DT0 is_VBZ fundamentally_AV0 totalitarian_AJ0 and_CJC anti-American_AJ0 ,_PUN ”_NP0 Lomperis_NP0 charged_VVD ._SENT “_NP0 The_AT0 Gill_NP0 Foundation’s_NP0 opposition_NN1 to_PRP religious_AJ0 liberty_NN1 and_CJC freedom-of-conscience_NN1 protections_NN2 represent_VVB the_AT0 extreme_AJ0 opposite_NN1 of_PRF America’s_NP0 greatest_AJS traditions_NN2 and_CJC highest_AJS ideals_NN2 of_PRF freedom_NN1 and_CJC tolerance_NN1 ,_PUN no_AT0 matter_NN1 how_AVQ many_DT0 misleading_AJ0 slogans_NN2 they_PNP may_VM0 hide_VVI behind_AV0 ._SENT ”_NP0 
“_NN1 Ambassadors_NN2 are_VBB supposed_AJ0 to_TO0 represent_VVI the_AT0 best_AJS of_PRF America_NP0 ,_PUN not_XX0 hostility_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 values_NN2 of_PRF faith_NN1 ,_PUN family_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC freedom_NN1 that_CJT have_VHB made_VVN America_NP0 great_AJ0 ,_PUN ”_NP0 he_PNP said_VVD regarding_PRP Miller’s_NP0 appointment_NN1 ._SENT 
If_CJS confirmed_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 Senate_NN1 ,_PUN Miller_NP0 would_VM0 also_AV0 serve_VVI as_PRP the_AT0 ambassador_NN1 to_PRP Liechtenstein_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 German-speaking_AJ0 principality_NN1 of_PRF about_PRP 38_CRD ,_PUN 000_CRD people_NN0 ._SENT The_AT0 U.S._NP0 embassy_NN1 to_PRP Switzerland_NP0 is_VBZ based_VVN in_PRP Bern_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 Swiss_AJ0 capital_NN1 ,_PUN while_CJS there_EX0 is_VBZ a_AT0 separate_AJ0 U.S._NP0 mission_NN1 to_PRP international_AJ0 organizations_NN2 in_PRP Geneva_NP0 ._SENT 
Miller_NP0 is_VBZ a_AT0 former_DT0 vice_AJ0 president_NN1 at_PRP UBS_NP0 Wealth_NN1 Management_NN1 in_PRP Denver_NP0 ,_PUN where_AVQ he_PNP provided_VVD financial_AJ0 advice_NN1 and_CJC portfolio_NN1 management_NN1 to_PRP “_AJ0 high-net-worth_AJ0 families_NN2 and_CJC charitable_AJ0 foundations_NN2 ,_PUN ”_VVB his_DPS biography_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 foundation_NN1 website_NN1 said_VVD ._SENT The_AT0 Biden_NP0 administration’s_NP0 Aug._NP0 6_CRD announcement_NN1 described_VVD him_PNP as_PRP “_NN1 an_AT0 LGBTQ_NP0 rights_NN2 activist_NN1 and_CJC philanthropist_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 
“_VVB The_AT0 Gill_NP0 Foundation_NN1 has_VHZ been_VBN given_VVN a_AT0 lot_NN1 of_PRF credit_NN1 for_PRP radical_AJ0 shifts_NN2 in_PRP American_AJ0 politics_NN1 and_CJC society_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 last_ORD decade_NN1 or_CJC so_AV0 ,_PUN ”_NP0 Lomperis_NP0 told_VVD CNA_NP0 ._SENT This_DT0 includes_VVZ the_AT0 area_NN1 of_PRF religion_NN1 ._SENT 
In_PRP 2014_CRD comments_NN2 to_PRP CNA_NP0 ,_PUN Lomperis_NP0 placed_VVD the_AT0 Gill_NP0 Foundation_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 context_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 patronage_NN1 network_NN1 of_PRF LGBT_NP0 activist_NN1 groups_NN2 engaged_VVN in_PRP what_DTQ he_PNP described_VVD as_PRP a_AT0 “_AJ0 hostile_AJ0 takeover_NN1 of_PRF religion_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 
The_AT0 Boulder_NP0 ,_PUN Colo.-based_AJ0 Movement_NN1 Advancement_NN1 Project_NN1 ,_PUN itself_PNX launched_VVN with_PRP the_AT0 help_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Gill_NP0 Foundation_NN1 ,_PUN in_PRP 2006_CRD convened_VVD a_AT0 coalition_NN1 of_PRF LGBT_AJ0 groups_NN2 to_TO0 discuss_VVI strategy_NN1 within_PRP Christian_AJ0 dominations_NN2 and_CJC in_PRP other_AJ0 religions_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 foundation’s_NN2 annual_AJ0 report_NN1 that_CJT year_NN1 said_VVD this_DT0 effort_NN1 conducted_VVD a_AT0 study_NN1 that_CJT “_AJ0 detailed_AJ0 work_NN1 underway_AV0 in_PRP denominations_NN2 ,_PUN seminaries_NN2 ,_PUN clergy_NN2 coalitions_NN2 and_CJC media_NN0 to_TO0 counter_VVI religious_AJ0 opposition_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 
The_AT0 report_NN1 noted_VVD the_AT0 project’s_NP0 collaboration_NN1 with_PRP billionaire_NN1 heir_NN1 Jon_NP0 Styrker’s_NP0 Arcus_NP0 Foundation_NN1 in_PRP “_NP0 funding_NN1 work_NN1 involving_VVG religion_NN1 and_CJC values_NN2 ._SENT ”_NP0 Stryker’s_NP0 foundation_NN1 has_VHZ helped_VVN back_AVP efforts_NN2 to_TO0 limit_VVI religious_AJ0 freedom_NN1 and_CJC has_VHZ backed_VVN Protestant_AJ0 ,_PUN Catholic_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC Muslim_AJ0 groups_NN2 that_CJT reject_VVB the_AT0 immorality_NN1 of_PRF homosexual_AJ0 acts_NN2 and_CJC relationships_NN2 ,_PUN its_DPS website_NN1 ,_PUN grant_NN1 listings_NN2 and_CJC tax_NN1 forms_NN2 show_VVB ._SENT 
Lomperis_NP0 voiced_VVD deep_AJ0 concern_NN1 “_NN1 about_PRP the_AT0 lack_NN1 of_PRF ethics_NN0 and_CJC integrity_NN1 in_PRP how_AVQ some_DT0 wealthy_AJ0 and_CJC apparently_AV0 secular_AJ0 liberal_AJ0 donors_NN2 have_VHB externally_AV0 undermined_VVN American_AJ0 Protestant_AJ0 denominations_NN2 ,_PUN including_PRP my_DPS own_DT0 United_AJ0 Methodist_AJ0 Church_NN1 ,_PUN by_PRP essentially_AV0 paying_VVG activists_NN2 to_TO0 tear_VVI these_DT0 churches_NN2 away_AV0 from_PRP their_DPS own_DT0 official_AJ0 ,_PUN historic_AJ0 doctrinal_AJ0 standards_NN2 ,_PUN in_PRP service_NN1 of_PRF lesser_AJ0 gods_NN2 of_PRF secular_AJ0 political_AJ0 agendas_NN2 ._SENT ”_NP0 
“_NN1 One_CRD mainline_AJ0 Protestant_AJ0 American_AJ0 denomination_NN1 after_CJS another_DT0 has_VHZ been_VBN officially_AV0 taken_VVN over_AVP by_PRP the_AT0 non-Christian_AJ0 LGBTQ_NP0 liberationist_NN1 movement_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ has_VHZ shown_VVN a_AT0 callous_AJ0 willingness_NN1 to_TO0 insist_VVI on_PRP getting_VVG what_DTQ they_PNP want_VVB no_AT0 matter_NN1 how_AVQ many_DT0 people_NN0 and_CJC valued_AJ0 institutions_NN2 they_PNP bully_VVB and_CJC damage_VVB along_AVP the_AT0 way_NN1 ,_PUN ”_NP0 he_PNP said_VVD ._SENT 
As_CJS CNA_NP0 previously_AV0 reported_VVN ,_PUN in_PRP 2012_CRD the_AT0 Gill_NP0 Foundation_NN1 made_VVD a_AT0 $_NN0 100_CRD ,_PUN 000_CRD general_AJ0 support_NN1 grant_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 Catholics_NN2 United_NP0 Education_NN1 Fund_NN1 ,_PUN almost_AV0 the_AT0 entire_AJ0 annual_AJ0 budget_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 group_NN1 ._SENT With_PRP its_DPS 501c4_CRD partner_NN1 Catholics_NN2 United_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 group_NN1 had_VHD begun_VVN to_TO0 lobby_VVI for_PRP same-sex_AJ0 marriage_NN1 and_CJC criticized_VVD Catholic_AJ0 groups_NN2 and_CJC schools_NN2 that_CJT followed_VVD Catholic_AJ0 teaching_NN1 on_PRP the_AT0 subject_NN1 ._SENT In_PRP 2013_CRD ,_PUN the_AT0 group_NN1 claimed_VVD the_AT0 Catholic_AJ0 men’s_NN1 organization_NN1 the_AT0 Knights_NN2 of_PRF Columbus_NP0 was_VBD funding_VVG a_AT0 “_AJ0 far-right_AJ0 political_AJ0 agenda_NN1 ”_NN1 against_PRP “_NP0 marriage_NN1 equality_NN1 ._SENT ”_NN1 In_PRP fact_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 men’s_NP0 group_NN1 was_VBD following_VVG the_AT0 lead_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 U.S._NP0 bishops_NN2 and_CJC its_DPS work_NN1 to_TO0 defend_VVI marriage_NN1 was_VBD praised_VVN by_PRP Pope_NP0 Francis_NP0 in_PRP a_AT0 letter_NN1 to_PRP its_DPS 2013_CRD international_AJ0 convention_NN1 ._SENT 
Ahead_AV0 of_PRF the_AT0 2012_CRD elections_NN2 ,_PUN Catholics_NN2 United_NP0 sent_VVD a_AT0 letter_NN1 to_PRP Florida_NP0 pastors_NN2 saying_VVG it_PNP was_VBD monitoring_VVG Catholic_AJ0 churches_NN2 for_PRP reputed_AJ0 illegal_AJ0 political_AJ0 activity_NN1 ._SENT Officials_NN2 with_PRP the_AT0 Florida_NP0 Conference_NN1 of_PRF Catholic_AJ0 Bishops_NN2 said_VVD the_AT0 letter_NN1 was_VBD inaccurate_AJ0 and_CJC appeared_VVD to_TO0 be_VBI “_AJ0 an_AT0 attempt_NN1 to_TO0 silence_VVI pastors_NN2 on_PRP issues_NN2 that_CJT are_VBB of_PRF concern_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 Church_NN1 this_DT0 election_NN1 season_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 
In_PRP April_NP0 2012_CRD ,_PUN Catholics_NN2 United_NP0 and_CJC its_DPS allies_NN2 protested_VVD the_AT0 withdrawal_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 Catholic_AJ0 Campaign_NN1 for_PRP Human_AJ0 Development_NN1 grant_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 Colorado-based_AJ0 immigrant_AJ0 aid_NN1 group_NN1 Companeros_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 Catholic_AJ0 campaign_NN1 ,_PUN an_AT0 initiative_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 U.S._NP0 bishops_NN2 ,_PUN withdrew_VVD the_AT0 grant_NN1 because_CJS the_AT0 group_NN1 maintained_VVD membership_NN1 in_PRP a_AT0 coalition_NN1 that_CJT supported_VVD the_AT0 legal_AJ0 recognition_NN1 of_PRF homosexual_AJ0 relationships_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 Gill_NP0 Foundation_NN1 subsequently_AV0 gave_VVD a_AT0 $_NN0 30_CRD ,_PUN 000_CRD matching_AJ0 grant_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 immigration_NN1 aid_NN1 group_NN1 while_CJS the_AT0 Catholics_NN2 United_NP0 Education_NN1 Fund_NN1 gave_VVD $_NN0 7_CRD ,_PUN 000._CRD 
The_AT0 White_AJ0 House’s_NP0 announcement_NN1 of_PRF Miller’s_NP0 nomination_NN1 described_VVD Miller_NP0 and_CJC Gill_NP0 as_PRP “_NP0 the_AT0 largest_AJS contributors_NN2 to_PRP LGBTQ_NP0 equality_NN1 in_PRP history_NN1 ,_PUN having_VHG donated_VVN hundreds_CRD of_PRF millions_CRD of_PRF dollars_NN2 to_PRP the_AT0 cause_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 
Miller_NP0 had_VHD introduced_VVN Biden_NP0 ,_PUN then_AV0 the_AT0 U.S._NP0 vice-president_NN1 ,_PUN as_CJS a_AT0 speaker_NN1 at_PRP the_AT0 2015_CRD OutGiving_AJ0 conference_NN1 ,_PUN an_AT0 invitation-only_AJ0 gathering_NN1 of_PRF major_AJ0 LGBT_NN1 donors_NN2 ._SENT Miller_NP0 praised_VVD Biden_NP0 ,_PUN who_PNQ was_VBD the_AT0 first_ORD sitting_NN1 vice-president_NN1 to_TO0 declare_VVI support_NN1 for_PRP same-sex_AJ0 marriage_NN1 ,_PUN as_PRP “_NN1 a_AT0 true_AJ0 friend_NN1 and_CJC ally_NN1 ,_PUN an_AT0 agent_NN1 of_PRF change_NN1 for_PRP the_AT0 LGBT_AJ0 community_NN1 ._SENT ”_NP0 
