GOPers Can Be Swayed on Gay Marriage

TRUTHANDHOPE.ORG COMMERCIAL STILL X390 (GRAB) | ADVOCATE.COM

A powerful and well-produced commercial can make even hardwired Republicans more sympathetic to the cause of marriage equality, according to a new study.

Released by the group Truth and Hope, a liberal grassroots group, the study looked at the effects of targeted marriage equality advertisements on a group of voters. Researchers surveyed 851 self-declared Democrats, Republicans, and independents and found that the majority of all parties reported that an ad supportive of marriage equality was effective.

The commercial in question featured a heterosexual baby-boomer couple speaking fondly of their gay son, his partner, and the gay couple's children.

"It may not be the family we imagined," the older man said, "but it is the family we know and love. We wouldn't change it for anything."

While Democrats and independents described "happiness" and "inspiration" as the emotions they most experienced after seeing the ad, Republicans described "disturbed" and "happiness" as the two most prominent emotions they felt after seeing the ad. While Republicans are clearly not yet comfortable with same-sex marriage, emotions like "anger" and "embarrassment" ranked lower than positive feelings like "inspiration."

Another good sign, according to Truth and Hope, is that 58% of Republicans described the ad as "extremely" or "somewhat" effective.

"The fact that one in five Republicans expressed happiness, and that the effectiveness rating [was] over 50% with all three parties shows that we are on target with our message," said Eugene Hedlund, founder and chair of TruthandHope.org. "Now it becomes our task to take this message to the airwaves, beginning in Maine where Frank Schubert is trying to take equality away from its citizens, just as he did in California in 2008."

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Reader Comments

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Name: Ang
Date posted: 10/21/2009 8:16:37 PM
Hometown: Atlanta

Comment:
Main is "a poor backwards state"? Honey, you have never been down south...Main got nothing on poverty and illiteracy compared to Miss., Ala, SC, La. and most of Ga.
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Name: Nathan
Date posted: 10/6/2009 6:09:35 PM
Hometown: Lake Worth

Comment:
John, you came into our lives (not the other way around) by coming onto this website. Why don't you get out of our lives and keep your christianity in the closet? You can sugarcoat it anyway you want, it's still CHRISTIAN TERRORISM.
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Name: Peter Harmatuk, CDR, US Navy Ret.
Date posted: 9/27/2009 8:30:03 AM
Hometown: Vienna, VA

Comment:
As a grandfather of 5, I share Frank's comments about the joys he is now experiencing as a grandparent....As his children and mine grew up as close friends both here and in Italy, our family fully supports Frank Jr. in who he was, who he is now and who he will become in the future......and continue to hope for the day when all of God’s children are loved and cherished for who they are.
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Name: dither
Date posted: 9/25/2009 11:30:49 AM
Hometown: OXNARD

Comment:
Glad to burst your bubble SAD John, but there are 18,000 LEGALLY MARRIED GAY COUPLES in CALIFORNIA and its only a matter of time before its legal all over our nation. now what do u say?
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: John
Date posted: 9/25/2009 1:19:57 AM
Hometown: Temecula, CA

Comment:
Try to sugarcoat homosexuality as you wish, but it is still wrong. I don't want my kids to see a couple of guys or girls macking down in the mall, holding hands in the market, in arms at the theater. Get it back in the closet! Maine is the poorest, most backward state in the country, and close to Teddy's Massachusetts (what a bunch of morons there), so it would not surprise me if they pass such a vulgar law. Bravo to California, one of the most liberal states in the country, for voting to forbid homosexual marriage. BTW: Please quit glossing over reality with with your cute little catch-phrases with 'gay', 'same sex', etc.. It's HOMOSEXUALITY any way you slice it! Get out of my life with your crap and live yours in the closet!!!
Back to top Post a Comment Report Abuse
Name: Joe Mustich, JP
Date posted: 9/23/2009 4:09:31 PM
Hometown: Washington, Connecticut

Comment:
Cool. It's time. Cheers, Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace, Washington, Connecticut, USA.
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Name: Kenneth Paulsen
Date posted: 9/23/2009 8:44:02 AM
Hometown: Malden, Mass.

Comment:
This is a very good ad. Let's hope that it is used in Maine.
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Name: Douglas Vogt
Date posted: 9/23/2009 8:08:59 AM
Hometown: New York

Comment:
Great Ad! The commercial refferd to theior son and his husband not his partner. Lets please try to use the correct family titles.
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Name: wafuu
Date posted: 9/23/2009 4:56:52 AM
Hometown: japan

Comment:
Does any of us get the family we imagine? A message permeated with love and strength from middle America doesn't dome much stronger than this.
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Name: Sam Henderson
Date posted: 9/23/2009 1:01:56 AM
Hometown: Atlatna

Comment:
What a great and effective ad. I will show this to some my own family members.

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