TORONTO — March is typically a busy season for the bridal industry with dresses to hem, cakes to bake and rings to size.

Now add to the lengthy list: Battling with politicians. Well, at least for the gay and lesbian community. A freebie monthly gay community magazine has waded into the murky political waters via a postcard campaign launched Wednesday.

Fab, which devoted its March issue to the bridal industry, printed 32,000 postcards - half to be mailed to Prime Minister Paul Martin thanking him for his support.

The rest are destined for Conservative Leader Stephen Harper's mailbox with a not-so-nice message from a hunky, scantily clad male model gesturing his middle finger.

On the back side, the card reads: "Stop instigating hatred against gays and lesbians and stifling minority rights. Your attitude sucks!"

Meanwhile, Martin's postcard thanks him "for upholding the Charter and protecting the rights of gays and lesbians. You rock!" The model is giving the PM two thumbs up and a big smile.

The magazine says the publication had no intention of joining the marriage debate until Harper made comments in the House of Commons suggesting that allowing gay marriage "is an assault on multiculturalism and the practices in those communities."

Harper's comments have moved the debate from one about marriage rights to one about lifestyle choice, said Mitchel Raphael, who edits the Toronto-based publication.

"This is not about marriage anymore. The average gay person is feeling the repercussions of the stuff that he's doing on the street," said Raphael. "He's bringing out so much hatred."

He added that the magazine doesn't have a liberal agenda and has publicly supported conservatives in the past. They put former Toronto police chief Julian Fantino on the cover last year.

"We're not saying Harper is a hateful person but he has to realize his comments have ramifications," said Raphael.

To fund the postcards, the magazine, which is distributed through gay-friendly restaurants and bars across Canada, joined forces with night club owners, party promoters and bathhouses - groups that usually steer clear of politics.

"We're hitting with a full-glamour assault," said Raphael.

The bridal issue of Fab coincides with a National Gay and Lesbian Wedding Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Sunday.

An anti-gay marriage group, Defend Marriage Coalition, plans to protest the event.