In this ad, the National Organization for Marriage appears to be trying to capitalize on the idea that people of color do not support gay marriage. Wait till the end for the direct appeal:
Found at Feminocracy.
These screenshots of the anti-gay marriage, Californian “Yes on 8” website also appeal to a multicultural (if segregated) constituency. See also this post challenging the idea that Black people and gay people are always at odds or even, of course, categorically different groups.
Lisa Wade, PhD is an Associate Professor at Tulane University. She is the author of American Hookup, a book about college sexual culture; a textbook about gender; and a forthcoming introductory text: Terrible Magnificent Sociology. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
Comments 12
mordicai — April 17, 2009
Deep breath.
Does everyone else feel like this is troll bait? Like-- everything supporting denying gay people civil rights is just some jerk on the internet stirring up trouble?
But it is actually happening. Amazing.
It is a pretty multi-cultural ad; I guess that is something? Of course, it just makes me think about the ways that education, class, & wealth all overlap with race. In a not-good way.
I won't debate the ad; it is pretty clearly & patently ridiculous.
The "well reasoned plea" put forward "with love" is more insidious than the over-the-top "dogs will marry ebola; robots will kill all pregnant mothers" fearmongering.
This is what people actually think!
Cecil — April 17, 2009
So I don't understand how gay marriage will affect their lives more than it already affects the lives of gay couple and families?
Is it just me or is this an unequal dichotomy?
Larry C Wilson — April 17, 2009
How is my marriage affected by that of someone else?
Brady — April 17, 2009
Somebody leaked the audition tapes of the people in ad who are, of course, actors, contrary to their presentation here as "just plain folks".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MprUIJ8QEqc
Thanks, somebody!
Kimba — April 17, 2009
This ad is disgusting and hurtful. On Thursday's Colbert Report, Colbert showed a parody of this ad that was pretty funny. The best part, "Did you know that if all 50 states approve gay marriage, straight marriage become illegal?" "Yes, I heard that somewhere."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To1UlG6_Tv0
thoughtcounts Z — April 18, 2009
Don't forget about the use of the word "rainbow" against gays and lesbians, even though the rainbow emblem is a major and recognizable LGBTQ symbol.
Ranah — April 18, 2009
The woman who said she has to choose between her faith and her job.
The man who said that the government is punishing the people from his church for their beliefs.
In its core this message is "My faith is sacred and above society (just like God is). I may believe in anything - have disdain for gay people for example. And as long as it is part of my religion, it's sacred and you must not touch it and make me give reasons for it. Any critisism towards it, any attempt to restrict the religious indoctrination of my children, any need to comply with people of other beliefs, is a violation of my rights."
It's fanaticism translated into more modern language ("violation of my rights" instead of "an insult to the God I serve"). Simply put, "Any "reality check" knocking on my door insults me and hurts me".
Maya — April 18, 2009
Kimba, you beat me to it! I will add that Comedy Central has the entire clip.
Portia DeRossi also illustrated how clueless the fearmongers are.
She is really a good actress!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ9sBkgDRzY
Fernando — April 18, 2009
Holy crap. How is that they didn't notice their comercial looked like a parody? If I didn't know any better it would've passed as a parody to me.
Miriam — April 18, 2009
This ad is extremely disingenuous. They say that "gay advocates" want to make the issue affect the lives of straight couples, but don't really say how. Maybe acknowledging same sex couples in schools? Kids get conflicting messages all the time. I'm not sure this one would screw them up any more than anything else.
I'm currently a student at a very progressive Divinity school and taking a course about homosexuality and American churches. The way conservative (Christian) groups appropriate tools of gay rights movement to use against them is interesting, but also indicative of how they see themselves as victims.
Dubi — April 19, 2009
"I am a father having to see his son go to a school where he is taught that believing in imaginary omnipotent people fathering children by virgins is a perfectly normal, sane thing."
By Jobe! Maybe I can get that whole "freedom of religion" thing out of schools! Screw you, theists!
Nique — April 21, 2009
when i saw this on colbert, at least the parts they showed really confused me. using the word rainbow and saying people can lose their jobs made me think it was pro-gay rights. but then when colbert redid it i knew it had to be that the original was trying to say the exact opposite of what colbert did. i kind of refuse to watch the entire thing. it would be a waste of my time to see what hate these people are spewing. and for the record, i am religious, and not all of us are haters like this. :-).