(Interesting) Gay people missing in Prop. 8 ads

[cboy4]

By Marcos Bretón - [e-mail]

Published 12:00 am PDT Sunday, October 12, 2008
Story appeared in OUR REGION section, Page B1


In the public relations battle over legalizing same-sex marriage, it appears gay people have been relegated to the background.

They are invisible in television ads arguing for and against Proposition 8 – the initiative that would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry.

Though many gays and lesbians see Prop. 8 as a civil rights issue, the campaign against it has been framed only by heterosexuals speaking in reassuring tones about gay people getting married. And from the proposition's supporters, a commercial features San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom – the guy who was once caught up in a public affair with the wife of a close friend.

You've probably seen it: Footage of Newsom gloating that gay marriage is here "whether you like it or not."

That single ad is part of a recent change in momentum. What was shaping up as an easy win for gay marriage has become a political dogfight.

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1307225.html

[davidinalameda]

1. it's the straight people who need to be sold on this

you still have straight people who are threatened by gays so wouldn't it make sense to have those straight people addressed by other straight people who aren't threatened?

[cboy4]

2. Yea, I know what you mean. But it's kinda like running

a campaign to get people to switch from their gas guzzlers to hybrids without showing pictures of what a hybrid is and how beneficial they are.

Yea, testimonials can be effective, but how about showing regular folks just living their lives not affecting a soul.

And if the car analogy doesn't work -- and I just thought of it in two seconds off of the top of my head, so it's not an award winning example .. what's wrong with showing gay people like this? :



Know what I'm sayin?

Naturally it makes sense to have straight, gay friendly folks appeal to the mostly straight doubters and haters.

But it seems like there should be a happy medium of showcasing both side.

Of course, I've known to be wrong sometimes.

[Cronus Protagonist]

3. That's one hella fruity cake!

I'm jus' sayin' :P

[ColbertWatcher]

4. I live in CA, will be voting against Prop 8 and have seen the ads ...

... I have to admit I didn't notice gays weren't even represented in the ads.

I wonder if they ever will be?

[cboy4]

5. Do you think they should be, or is it enough to just have

straight people articulate that they don't have a problem with same sex couples getting married at city hall or at the beach?

[ColbertWatcher]

6. I think the subject of the ad should be in the ad.

However, I wonder if gays were going to be featured in another wave of ads, but those ads were pulled due to the poll numbers.

I don't know what's going on.

[dsc]

7. I actually went and watched the ads

I am not sure that we need to have gay people in the ads but we do need to point out where the money for the other side's ads comes from. The Newsome ad would be effective I think as would the child ad. I liked both of our postive ads but didn't think the negative ad went far enough.

[xchrom]

8. you know if i think about this from an historical perspective --

this is a straight persons issue.

not unlike getting more white people on board to repeal racially discriminating laws or gettting men to repeal sexist laws that bound the lives of women.

now that doesn't excuse say the role of law makers -- or politicians who KNOW that gay people should be treated equally but don't for the sake of expediency.

it's a shame that this has to turn into this kind of dog fight to provide cover for those who should just do their jobs.

[LeftyMom]

9. The people who need to be won over are overwhelmingly older, straight and white

So the people in the ads are older, straight and white. The idea is to get them to identify.

Unfortunately, to get this thing won, the emphasis has to be on inclusiveness and fairness. If we let the Yes on 8 people make this into a referendum on people's level of comfort with GLBT people and their relationships, we'll lose.

[mitchtv]

10. Although I'd like to see a couple tell it like it is

We must take a lesson from Obama, don't appear angry.
If we lose , however I shutter.