Gay Kiss Ad Pushes
Constitutional
Same-Sex Marriage Ban
Eric Minor, NEWS9
from the Web, October 6, 2006
CHARLESTON, W. Va. Oct. 5 --
It is a commercial that is hard to miss.
It shows a traditional marriage ceremony in a church with a bride and a groom.
But at the end, the bride’s veil is lifted to reveal a man’s face just before
the couple lean in for a kiss.
The real twist is that the ad calls for a constitutional amendment banning gay
marriage.
The advertisement ends with a voice-over narration: “Don't let liberal
judges and homosexuals make a mockery of marriage.”
The commercial has generated a strong response via calls and e-mails coming in
to the NEWS9 newsroom.
One viewer called to say he was “mortified.” Another was “disgusted” by the
commercial.
Some viewers saw no problem with the commercial or its message.
“I do not believe men and men and women and women should be together,” one
viewer told NEWS9.
“I am 100 percent for banning gay marriage,” said another.
The commercial was paid for by the West Virginia Family Foundation, a branch of
the American Family Association.
The ad is aimed at driving viewers to the Foundation’s Web site and to a
petition calling for a state constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
"If they wish, they may support marriage between one man and one woman and a
state constitutional amendment,” said Foundation President Kevin McCoy.
“We in no way promote a candidate or anything like that."
McCoy told NEWS9 his group never intended to cause controversy with the
advertisement.
Andrew Schneider, the director of the West Virginia chapter of the American
Civil Liberties Union, disputed that claim and said the ad uses shock value to
encourage discrimination.
“They have the right to express their viewpoint,” said Schneider. “It’s
unfortunate that their viewpoint is directed toward inflaming prejudices such as
excluding certain individuals from marriage.”
Six years ago, West Virginia lawmakers legally defined marriage as a legal union
between one man and one woman.
The West Virginia Family Foundation petition suggests a constitutional amendment
would have a better chance of surviving legal challenges.
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