So, I'm wondering: Does that mean Mr. Clean is gay? What about that Pringles guy with the handlebar mustache?

No, none of that. P&G spokesman Doug Shelton said it only means that P&G is under attack for donating $10,000 to repeal Article 12 in Cincinnati. "We believe repeal is in the best interests of Cincinnati and our whole region," he said.

Article 12 is older than Olestra in Cincinnati. It's the local law passed by 62 percent of voters in 1993, to prohibit gay-rights laws.

Backers boast and critics complain that Cincinnati is the only city with such a law. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld it twice, ruling that it is not discriminatory to outlaw preferential treatment.

But P&G officials, in a letter to employees, said Article 12 is "outdated and divisive" and "negatively impacts the city and region's image, and therefore limits P&G's ability to attract and retain the best talent to help build our business."

"We've had recruits show concern about Cincinnati," Shelton said. But he doesn't know how often such questions come up, he said.

So it's the same old argument, back and forth. Mayor Charlie Luken and P&G say prohibiting gay rights is "discrimination." Citizens for Community Values leader Phil Burress says no way, "It is clearly not."

The city agreed to delete the word "discrimination" from ballot language because it was legally wrong, Burress said. And if Article 12 is repealed on claims of discrimination, "We will put it back on the ballot," Burress said.

Cincinnati Human Relations Commission director Cecil Thomas reports about 10 complaints of anti-gay discrimination in 2004, from insults to attacks.

Burress says he has had death threats and hate mail. "The other side is extremely intolerant."

I think the claims of discrimination and economic damage are wildly exaggerated. Anti-gay bias exists. So does anti-religious bias in gay-rights laws that don't allow churches the freedom to hire straights only.

Burress says the repeal effort will lose.

P&G could also lose. The letter to employees says, "We will not tolerate discrimination in any form, against anyone, for any reason." Dobson and the American Family Association insist that means P&G supports gay marriage.

P&G offers domestic partner benefits, like many big corporations, but has no official position on gay marriage.

David Herriman, a real estate developer who is working for the repeal of Article 12, thinks gay marriage is being exploited to raise money. "The boycott idea, I believe, was conceived as a way to keep the anti-gay issue in the news and keep the base energized. It has succeeded in doing that. I would bet that there is a concomitant fund-raising letter."

He has a point. A Sept. 19 AFA fund-raising e-mail lists the P&G boycott.

With phones jammed at P&G, the bosses may regret taking sides in Article 12. It's not the kind of PR mistake that can be mopped up with a Swiffer.

But by stretching P&G's position to include gay marriage, Dobson and AFA give ammunition to critics who say family values groups care more about raising money than moral standards.

Religious leaders have an extra obligation to play it straight. Like Mr. Clean.

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E-mail pbronson@enquirer.com or call 768-8301.