Ely Shopper facing boycott following owner's anti-gay statement

"If you want to put your gay wedding announcement in the Ely Shopper, bring it somewhere else," the paper's owner said.

A "Boycott the Ely Shopper" Facebook page has been created after the paper's owner went on the record with her opposition to gay marriage.

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At a public meeting late last month where the marriage amendment was discussed, Shopper owner Dea Whitten said she opposes gay marriage because "a mom and a dad are the best people to raise kids."

"We never dreamt that gays would marry when I was a kid," Whitten said, according to the Ely Echo. "If you want to put your gay wedding announcement in the Ely Shopper, bring it somewhere else."

The protest page asks supporters to "call the Shopper... and ask them to be removed from their mailing list."

"Consider letting them know why. (With grace and intelligence please.)" the unnamed page creators ad.

The Shopper was first published in 1932 and has a circulation of over 5,000 papers in the Ely, Babbitt, and Winton area. "Whether you are a person selling your old boat and motor, a club announcing your next meeting or a downtown business announcing this week's sale, the Ely Shopper is 'Where Advertising Pays,'" the weekly's website says.

The anti-Shopper Facebook page was created Saturday and already has over 100 likes.