A group called "America Forever" have taken out full page ads in various Utah newspapers, which include hateful and misleading information on homosexuality and the Common Ground Initiative, which would grant basic rights to gay partners in Utah.
The ads compare gays to "druggies and hookers," and claims gays are trying to "validate homosexuality to the children." Even fellow anti-gay activists have condemned the ads. The Salt Lake Tribune reports:
"Gay-rights opponent Rep.
Carl Wimmer… agrees with America Forever's stance on
upholding 'traditional marriage' but condemns the group's tactics and
rhetoric, including the ad. 'Everything they're doing crosses the line, there's no need to have hateful discourse,' Wimmer said. 'Quite
frankly, they make those of us who are on the side of traditional
marriage — they make a lot of us — look bad.'"
Click on the images to read the content of the ads, and let me know what you think.
– Andy
Photo Credit: DrinkingLiberallySLC
For the other ad, follow the JUMP:
anyone else think that it’s “classic, racist Utah” for them to use the picture of a gay BLACK man in order to play at the underlying internal racism that still affects much of Utah/ SLC/ LDS culture?
isnt that slander. Couldnt the community or Common Ground Initiative sue them for defamation of there name?
Its not like were trying to have sex with THEM, I really just do not see why all this matters so much. What is so wrong with us as a community finally being afforded the same basic rights every other human has, the last time I looked in the mirror, I looked just as human as my heterosexual neighbor. Could just be me, maybe I’m just not seeing that third arm…
a community can’t sue someone(maybe an individual could, but that’s be a tough case to win), neither can a legislative bill. But I wish they could, even if just to hurt these hater fools!
matthew, it’s called ignorance and stupidity, two things that have plagues humanity since the beginning, and in 2009, are still here full force.
I think all GLBT men and women of Utah should band together in a civil lawsuit against America Forever, for slandering the gay community. Many illiterate folks in Utah who see the ad may actually believe the lies to be truth, thus hurting the social and communal lives of GLBT citizens. Many who may have finally become comfortable being themselves, might retreat back into the closet for fear of retaliation based on the untruths in the America Forever ad. Which, most likely, is just what A.F. wants. For gays and lesbians to go back into hiding, so the “problem” goes away. This is unacceptable.
I find it interesting that no one has mentioned the newspapers themselves. How can any respectable newspaper print this garbage? Newspapers are not in the best of positions right now, what would a boycott of them do?
Frankly, I find it completely moronic.
Marriage should just be done away with all together (from a legal & political perspective), since that is a religious based institution and the constitution guarantees a separation of church and state.
Everyone should be required to have a civil union, period. Then those that want to get married, in the eyes of God (and not the state) should be able to do so.
Thus turning the tables on all those hate mongers.
But as long as “we” keep electing government officials that don’t hold our views then nothing will change.
Make a change, in the next election only vote for people that will take a stance against bigotry and hatred.