Wayne Besen - Author, Activist, Columnist, Public Speaker

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Anti-Gay Groups Strike With TV Ad Full of Lies

It did not take long for anti-gay groups to fight back after losing marriage battles in Vermont and Iowa. Here is an unbelievably dishonest ad by the National Organization for Marriage.

Now, courtesy of the Human Rights Campaign, here are the actor tryouts for the bogus ad. I wonder why they could not find real people who were harmed by gay people marrying?

HRC says the ad is set to run eight times per day in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and California.

Background Ad Rebuttal

"The Real Truth Behind the Fake Ad"

The general argument of the ad is that the push for marriage equality isn’t just about rights for same-sex couples, it's about imposing contrary values on people of faith. The examples they cite in the ad are:

(1) A California doctor who must choose between her faith and her job

(2) A member of New Jersey church group which is punished by the state because they can't support same-sex marriage

(3) A Massachusetts parent who stands by helpless while the state teaches her son that gay marriage is okay

The facts indicate that (1) refers to the Benitez decision in California, determining that a doctor cannot violate California anti-discrimination law by refusing to treat a lesbian based on religious belief, (2) refers to the Ocean Grove, New Jersey Methodist pavilion that was open to the general public for events but refused access for civil union ceremonies (and was fined by the state for doing so) and (3) refers to the Parker decision in Massachusetts, where parents unsuccessfully sought to end public school discussions of family diversity, including of same-sex couples.

All three examples involve religious people who enter the public sphere, but don't want to abide by the general non-discriminatory rules everyone else does. Both (1) and (2) are really about state laws against sexual orientation discrimination, rather than specifically about marriage. And (3) is about two pairs of religious parents trying to impose their beliefs on all children in public schools.

The real facts of each case are:

* The California doctor entered a profession that promises to "first, do no harm" and the law requires her to treat a patient in need -- gay or straight, Christian or Muslim -- regardless of her religious beliefs. The law does not, and cannot, dictate her faith -- it can only insist that she follow her oath as a medical professional.

* The New Jersey church group runs, and profits from, a beachside pavilion that it rents out to the general public for all manner of occasions -- concerts, debates and even Civil War reenactments -- but balks at permitting couples to hold civil union ceremonies there. The law does not challenge the church organization's beliefs about homosexuality -- it merely requires that a pavilion that had been open to all for years comply with laws protecting everyone from discrimination, including gays and lesbians.

* The Massachusetts parent disagrees with an aspect of her son's public education, a discussion of the many different kinds of families he will likely encounter in life, including gay and lesbian couples. The law does not stop her from disagreeing, from teaching him consistently with her differing beliefs at home, or even educating her child in a setting that is more in line with her faith traditions. But it does not allow any one parent to dictate the curriculum for all students based on her family's religious traditions.

3 Comments:

I hope the glbt community has enough resources to counter these liars with TV ads of our own. It would be a public service if people like Rachel Maddow, Olberman and Ed Schultz could bring attention to this also.
posted by Anonymous, at 4/08/2009 2:14 PM

When will homophobic idiots realize that we are not seeking their permission? It drives them over the edge. This is that result.
posted by Spouse Walker, at 4/08/2009 3:56 PM

You know, mail, I'm with you. I am no longer seeking permission or approval of these s.o.b.s.

I was dismayed, but not surprised to see that these bastards aren't wasting any time in trying to take away our right to marry in Iowa.

My spouse watched the commercial and were sickened by the lies of these people. How they can sleep at night it beyond me. Maybe for them, the end justifies the means so anything, lies incuded, are acceptable.

My spouse believes that these people are so screwed up in their own marriages that the thought of LGBTQ people being able to marry and be happy infuriates them. I think it's that plus incredible monotheistic arrogance and self-righteousness.

I too, hope that our community has the resources to be able to put up ads to counter this stuff. Maybe some of our own will, those who have influence and are more visible, will come out and speak on our behalf. I hope so.

Still I think the tide has begun to turn in our direction. The facgt that even two Republicans recognised the case on its constitutional merits is a good sign. And the fact that legislators in Vermont not only legalised marriage equality, they overrode the governor's veto is even better news. I have confidence that I will see marriage equality in many, if not all, of the 50 states in my life.
posted by Merlyn, at 4/10/2009 2:40 AM