Manhunt Buys DList

Via their PR agency, Manhunt lets us know that they've purchased DList.

Jonathan Crutchley, Chairman at Online Buddies Inc., the parent company of Manhunt, announced today that the company has acquired a majority stake in the leading social networking site for gay men under age 30, DList.com. As part of the deal, Online Buddies will take over all marketing efforts for Dlist.com. Online Buddies CEO, Adam Segel, and CFO, Richard Scott, will be appointed to DList.com in their respective roles. DList.com founder Todd Sowers, recently named Chief Marketing Officer at Online Buddies, retains a minority partnership in DList.com and will be appointed Chief Operations Officer of DList.com where he will continue to oversee the daily operations of the site.

Remember last year when Crutchley made a big deal out of "resigning" from Manhunt's board of directors after it was revealed that he'd contributed to John McCain's election fund? As we all said at the time, that was meaningless damage control. He's still the same conservative Republican calling the shots at the nation's largest gay internet hook-up service.

HomoQuotable - James Kirchick

"The hue and cry over [Manhunt founder] Crutchley's politics is all too familiar. Why can't gay activists countenance the idea of a "Massachusetts Republican"? Liberal intolerance. In the minds of too many on the left, gay people (like women and ethnic minorities) have to be liberal and support Democratic candidates. To do otherwise -- that is, to have opinions on issues (even issues utterly unrelated to gay rights) that don't follow the left-wing line -- is to be a traitor to the gay "community."

"For too long, many gay-rights activists have acted as if throwing temper tantrums will magically bring about their political agenda. But labeling everyone with whom they don't agree a "bigot" does not help the worthy cause of gay equality.

"The truth of the matter is that civil rights for gays can't come about without the help of Republicans. And this means that gay people -- and straight supporters of gay equality -- need to stand with, not silence, people like Crutchley who are working to change the GOP from within.

"Gays need only look to California, where a state Supreme Court loaded with Republican appointees legalized gay marriage and the Republican governor is one of the most powerful pro-gay publicly elected officials in the country, to understand the importance of making gay rights a bipartisan cause.

"Gayness is a sexual orientation, not a political one. Aside from their sexuality, gay people are no different from heterosexuals. There are gay people of all races, income levels, occupations, body types and, yes, political beliefs. Gay liberals are always crowing about the importance of "diversity" and lauding its importance on matters of race and gender. Too bad diversity doesn't count when it comes to politics." - New Republic assistant editor and neocon James Kerchick, in an Op-Ed piece published in today's Los Angeles Times.

McCain To Return Manhunt Money

This weekend the Boston Herald reported that John McCain's campaign will return Manhunt cofounder Jonathan Crutchley's $2300 donation.

McCain’s camp seemed just as eager to distance themselves from the brief alliance. McCain spokesman Jeff Grappone didn’t return multiple phone calls on the subject, and Crutchley has apparently been informed that his $2,300 will be returned.

“He said, ‘If John is too good for my money, I’ll give it to (presumptive Democratic nominee) Barack (Obama),’ ” Basile said yesterday. Crutchley, who originally defended his donation in an online post, did not return a call for comment.

“I believe McCain will be a better commander-in-chief than Obama, who also opposes gay marriage,” Crutchley wrote in response to an item in the Huffington Post about his donation. “If we have an experienced, seasoned person defending the country in this dangerous age, we will be able to argue about the gay agenda later.”

Crutchley has since written a “touching” letter to the employees at Manhunt, according to Basile, and is now committed to supporting Obama. “Someone had a reality check,” Basile said.

Follow the story at Stop Manhunt.

Damage Control: Manhunt Chairman Jonathan Crutchley Resigns

Towleroad is reporting that Manhunt chairman Jonathan Crutchley has resigned from its board of directors. In a lengthy statement, Manhunt cofounder Larry Basile strenuously defends his decades-long record of personal gay activism and confirms Crutchley's resignation. Basile concludes with this:

"It should be known that Jonathan Crutchley's donation to McCain left the entire Board in disbelief. I am disappointed that we have lost some customers, and I understand the anger. It is too bad for the web site if we lose customers, but PLEASE never refer to me as a Republican. I consider it an offense. Earlier today, at the request of the Board, Jonathan has stepped down as Chairman."

As Andy Towle points out, it is quite likely that Crutchley remains a primary recipient of Manhunt's millions in annual revenue. (Coors, anyone?) And I find it rather unlikely that Manhunt was previously unaware of Crutchley's politics. Still, this is a positive move for the company.

Manhunt Founder Donates Max To McCain

Hot on the heels of last week's evisceration of Manhunt in Out Magazine's article Is Manhunt Destroying Gay Culture?, comes the revelation at Towleroad that Manhunt cofounder Jonathan Crutchley has donated the personal maximum of $2300 to John McCain's presidential campaign.

Via Towleroad comes this exchange between Crutchley and a commenter on Online Personal Watch:Andy Towle: "It appears John McCain has accepted the maximum individual campaign donation from the owner of America's largest gay sex hook-up website."

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