Orlando Magic, Amway Linked to Anti-Gay Group Donations

The domino effect after Chick-fil-A's anti-gay donations controversy has started. The newest company to be publicly linked to supporting causes against the LGBT community is Amway, the Michigan-based direct selling company.

ABC News reports that Amway president Doug DeVos--whose father also happens to own the Orlando Magic basketball team--has donated $500,000 to ultra conservative religious group the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) through the company's charitable arm, the Douglas and Maria DeVos Foundation.

NOM is one of the top groups leading the charge against same-sex marriage equality. When Chick-fil-A head Dan Cathy confirmed he was "guilty as charged" for supporting anti-gay causes, the religious group came out on his defense, praising Cathy as a "corporate hero for marriage."

LGBT advocate Fred Karger, president of Rights Equal Rights foundation, is asking people to boycott the company, Chick-fil-A style: He has launched the website BoycottAmway.com, which includes a full list of all Amway affiliates, a Change.org petition and a phone number to call DeVos.

"I have been closely tracking NOM for over four years," Karger told the Raw Story. "NOM always tries to hide the names of its donors and often breaks state election reporting laws in the process. NOM is currently under active investigations for election law violations in Maine and California"

"I imagine NOM leaders Maggie Gallagher and Brian Brown thought that no one would uncover the huge Amway contribution which appears to be the largest family donation to NOM in its history," Karger added. "Only the Catholic Church's political arm the Knights of Columbus has given more to the 'Hate Group' NOM."

Amway responded by saying the owners of the company "believe the highest calling of any individual is to express their own personal beliefs."

"As private citizens, the DeVos family supports causes and organizations that advocate for policies aligned to their personal beliefs," an Amway spokesperson said in a statement obtained by Michigan Live. "Both families believe one of the highest callings of any individual is to express their own personal beliefs as a participant in the democratic process."

The statement also says that Amway's goal is to support a favorable business environment, adding, "Our employees and distributors come from all walks of life and represent an incredibly diverse set of backgrounds. The Amway opportunity is open to everyone."

Which one will be the next company to face public scrutiny?