The man who helped organize the National Organization for Marriage’s busload of bigots tour through Atlanta last summer is trying again in 2011. But this time, Louis Marinelli comes to Atlanta as part of his marriage equality tour.

It was that sad NOM protest at the State Capitol in downtown Atlanta last August (top photo) that helped convince Marinelli (bottom photo) to change his anti-gay marriage ways. So on April 7, he offered this deep change of heart on his blog:

Having spent the last five years putting all of my political will, interest and energy into fighting against the spread of same-sex marriage as if it were a contagious disease, I must admit that it is hard for me to put the following text into words let alone utter them with my own voice.

Whether it is an issue of disbelief, shame or embarrassment, the one thing that is for sure is that I have come to this point after several months of an internal conflict with myself. That conflict gradually tore away at me until recently when I was able to for the first time simply admit to myself that I do in fact support civil marriage equality.

While I have come to terms with this reality internally, speaking about it, even with the closest members of my family, has proven to be something difficult for me to do.

Now, he’s taking a page or two from the NOM playbook that he helped create – a 22-stop bus tour that kicks off Aug. 14 in San Diego and includes an Aug. 30 appearance in Atlanta. The Summer for Marriage Equality Tour was announced on May 25.

Marinelli wants to push two messages during the tour: that marriage equality is not an ideological issue and conservative leaders should see the swell of support that marriage equality enjoys.

Last year, I helped organize the 2010 Summer for Marriage Tour with the National Organization for Marriage. Over the course of 30 days, we traveled more than 10,000 miles to spread a discriminatory message I once believed in to oppose same-sex marriage.

Ironically, it was that very summer tour that led me to change my mind and come to support marriage equality. This new tour will serve as a testimony to that change and will seek to spread two messages.

Firstly, that marriage equality is not an ideological issue. Too many see support for gay rights as strictly a liberal issue. That’s a mistake. Supporting the constitutional rights of all citizens is a conservative issue, too.

Secondly, the tour will seek to demonstrate to conservative legislators across the country that more and more people are coming to support marriage equality. Eventually, that truth will start reflecting changes among conservatives, too. If I, an opinionated conservative can change my mind, it won’t be long before many other conservatives do, too. Not to mention independents.

Like any good fundraising activist, Marinelli says he needs funding to make the tour happen – more than $10,000 – and is asking for your help.

Do you support Marinelli and his flip-flop on marriage equality? Will you attend the Atlanta tour stop? Let us know in the comments below.