Gay Marriage Gets Million-Dollar Ad Campaign

[Khephra]

Gay Marriage Gets Million-Dollar Ad Campaign

By Howard Kurtz
Monday, November 10, 2003; Page A04


Gay marriage is shaping up as a hot-button issue for the Republicans in 2004 -- which is why one gay rights group is spending as much as $1 million on advertising to frame the issue in positive terms.

"We want to educate people about what marriage is," says spokesman Mark Shields of the Human Rights Campaign.

The ads, to be placed in major national newspapers, try to humanize the issue of same-sex unions. "Why Are 'Pro-Family' Groups Attacking This Family?" says one ad featuring a Maryland couple, Jo and Teresa, and their three young children: Between "skinned knees" and "soccer practice . . . they face all the same joys and frustrations as other parents -- but without the same protections."

Other versions showcase two elderly women, two black women, two church-going men and Keith Bradkowksi holding a photo of his partner, who died in the World Trade Center attack. "The terrorists killed people not because they were gay or straight -- but because they were Americans," the headline says.

more...............

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A19947-2003Nov9.html

[liberalcapitalist]

1. the right will use this issue

The right will use this issue to rally support from homophobic hate-mongers and backward thinkers. I am in support of gay marriage, but after a lot of thinking, I would prefer John Edwards to win the nomination so that the right cannot make this an issue. It is horrible that we-- the RIGHT (as in correct)-- have to play politics to win.. But this election is far too important.

[La_Serpiente]

2. As a gay person

I don't expect that there be gay civil unions or marriage during this upcoming term. I can understand that there are many barriers to achieving it. However, I don't think the point is to get legislation passed right now. I think the point is that the hatred of the right needs to be nullified by the left. Every little step counts, and in fact, this could make a little leeway into providing some domestic partner benefits to LGBT.

Right now, I think we are only in the beggining stages of presenting GLBT issues in a positive light. This is because the right has hijacked it and will spew out any vitriol that they pull out of their brains.

We have to take a pro-active step on this issue. Otherwise, myself and other GLBT will be the scapegoats of a hate machine.

[truthisfreedom]

3. cool.

this'll help drive 'em crazy.

[jeter]

4. The only people talking about Gay Marriage

Are Republicans.

[onehandle]

6. To keep their racist base faithful and pony up...

This is the big subject this time around for non-millionaires.

[David__77]

9. I'm talking about same-gender marriage, and I'm not a Republican.

I am a gay man married to a man, though according to my state's law, we're "domestic partners." Certainly I work in support of opening marriage to same-sex couples. I work for those candidates who have a chance of winning that support my position in this. That does not necessarily include the presidency, but it includes local, state and federal-level races other than this. I'm in CA, not MS or OK though...

[Paschall]

5. More info at the Human Rights Campaign

http://www.hrc.org

[Some Moran]

7. Wow...

Hitting the Patriotic and the Family Values buttons will help them a lot.

[xchrom]

8. that's taking responsibility

the dem base will have to protect, fight back against the hate-bait coming from the repukes.
it will be up to the grass roots to fight this, and protect whoever the national candidates are.