First "Yes on 8" Ad Set to Air

Protect Marriage will release its first "Yes on 8" advertisement today. The 30-second spot opens with San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom at a press conference on May 15, the day the California supreme court ruled to recognize marriage equality in the state. "This door's wide open now," says Newsom, jubilantly. "It's gonna happen, whether you like it or not." The ad serves to emphasize three key points: activist judges have imposed gay marriage on 4 million California voters, who in 2000 voted against marriage equality; gay marriage will lead to people being sued for their personal beliefs, churches losing tax exemption, and same-sex marriage being taught in schools; and the voters don't have to accept it if they vote yes on Proposition 8.

The advertisement, while not compelling, will likely speak to the concerns of people already supporting the ballot initiative.

See the ad here: www.protectmarriage.com/video. (The Advocate)

READ COMMENTS (8) EMAIL PRINT RECOMMEND

Reader Comments

Back to top
Name: Julian Clift
Date posted: 9/30/2008 5:09:00 PM
Hometown: Albany CA

Comment:
Well, I must first point out that the ads started running during Prime Time last night, Sept 29; I saw them at least a half dozen times. That said, I agree that they are not terribly compelling; the nonsense about activist judges overturning the will of 4 million Californians (What is the population of this state again? What majority are we talking about here?), imposing gay marriage (Yeah, dude, if you don't marry another dude, the government is coming after you), the loss of tax-exempt status (isn't that a Federal thing?) and, save us all, teaching gay marriage in public schools (will there be a quiz?)...Am I worried about these ads changing minds? Not really. The No on 8 ads, which are running, at least around this neck of the woods, quite a bit more frequently, no doubt courtesy of people like Brad Pitt et al opening their wallets, are a lot more everything, honest, heartfelt, and to the point.
Back to top
Name: Granny
Date posted: 9/30/2008 5:03:00 PM
Hometown: Menifee, CA

Comment:
I watched the ad three times yesterday. It was full of lies and distortions. Fear tactics used by the Republicans as usual. These scare tactics will work unless we all donate some money to get more of our ads out there on the TV screen. The churches are really running with this one and they don't deserve any tax exemptions. They are definitely telling people how to vote and threatening them as well for not being "true" believers. One man sent in a letter to our local newspaper and it was just beautiful. He is straight but took up for us like nobody else has. God bless him.
Back to top
Name: David
Date posted: 9/30/2008 2:08:00 PM
Hometown: San Diego

Comment:
The ad uses the same lies and scare tactics that the Republicans are known for. It will certainly get worse over the next few weeks.
Back to top
Name: Alicia Wheatley
Date posted: 9/30/2008 9:10:00 AM
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Comment:
Since churches are politicizing from the pulpit now anyway, despite their "tax exempt status," this particular argument seems moot in the commercial. ..."33 pastors across the country set out Sunday to break the rules, hoping to generate a legal battle that will prompt federal courts to throw out a 54-year-old ban on political endorsements by tax-exempt houses of worship..."
Back to top
Name: Chino Blanco
Date posted: 9/30/2008 2:43:00 AM
Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan

Comment:
"The advertisement, while not compelling, will likely speak to the concerns of people already supporting the ballot initiative." That sounds about right, and considering that opponents already outnumber supporters, it would suggest that this ad is another wasted effort from the Yes on 8 side.
Back to top
Name: torqueflite
Date posted: 9/29/2008 5:13:00 PM
Hometown: Niwot, Colorado

Comment:
Was it 'activist judges' in the Supreme Court who gave us Bush over Gore in 2000?
Back to top
Name: Chris Sullivan
Date posted: 9/29/2008 5:02:00 PM
Hometown: Chicago, IL

Comment:
"Activist judges" appears to be a term coined by Republicans when judges don't vote on social issues the way they want them to. It's most frequently used when judges opinions favor GLBT rites. Judges that support the Republican point of view on GLBT rites don't get a title. The not-so-subtle implication is that they are doing their jobs correctly by deciding against GLBT rites.
Back to top
Name: Frank Eggers
Date posted: 9/29/2008 1:45:00 PM
Hometown: Albuquerque NM

Comment:
According to the yes on 8 advertisement, "... activist judges have imposed gay marriage on 4 million California voters..." I don't quite understand, perhaps because of my limited intellectual ability. Could someone explain that statement? Are "activist" judges actually forcing people to marry someone of the same sex? If so, how will it be enforced? Will people be tortured to force them to consent to marry someone of the same sex? What will the penalty be if someone refuses to marry someone of the same sex? This is all very confusing.

PREVIOUS 1 NEXT

More Online Only

Commentary What Massa Could Learn From Ashburn

COMMENTARY: Matthew S. Bajko says Republican California state senator Roy Ashburn deserves praise for coming out of the closet despite his antigay voting record. Now, if only former congressman Eric Massa would follow his lead.

Music The Truth About Tracy and Kim

Don’t be tardy for this party! DJ Tracy Young comes clean — mostly — about her rumored lesbian relationship with Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kim Zolciak.

News Kids Say the Darndest Things

Micah Schraft and his boyfriend, John, were filming Micah's family at Thanksgiving when the 5-year-old son of a family friend wanted to know if the two were husbands. The result is a video you have to see.

Commentary The Importance of Being Counted

With benefits from boosting hate-crimes and marriage equality laws to simply letting legislators know gay Americans indeed exist, the 2010 Census is a chance to stand up and be counted.

Commentary How Many of Us Have Been Sen. Ashburn?

Sexologist Jallen Rix argues that gays and lesbians quick to condemn newly out senator Ashburn and his actions might want to take a good look at how they behaved before they came out.

Marriage Equality We Now Pronounce You ...

When Jonathan Howard and Gregory Jones found out Crate & Barrel's Ultimate Wedding Contest was open to couples holding commitment ceremonies, they entered. Now, they have a good shot at winning.

Music Matt Morris: An Ideal Husband

Singer-songwriter and Out 100 honoree Matt Morris talks RuPaul’s Drag Race, coming out to pal Justin Timberlake, and the big secret to being a successful gay artist.

Commentary Life on the G-List: Gym Actor Hours

David Moretti explains the pursuit of getting ripped for film, and doing it with the company of other actors while people with real jobs work.

News View From Washington: Showdown

The effort to end "don't ask, don't tell" heated up this week with the introduction of Senate legislation. But lawmakers are now facing off with the military over when to pass repeal.

DVDs Hot Sheet: Greek, Groove, and Alice

This week Greek wants you to think back to your frat days, Johnny Depp is looking to explore the Mad Hatter's Gay Days, and Little Boots goes after Gaga's gays.

Television Soapside: The Advocate's Guide to Daytime

Crystal Chappell on Venice finale, One Life’s Scott Evans on Fish being a baby daddy, All My Children’s Susan Lucci speaks to Bianca’s coming-out story, and big news from Eden Riegel.

Politics Perez Talks Prop. 8, HIV, and the Economy
John Pérez (left) became California's first openly gay assembly speaker on Monday. By Tuesday he was laying out his agenda for issues including HIV funding, jobs, and reinstating marriage equality in the Golden State.

News Features Soulforce: Riding for Justice

Twenty-eight youths set out to fight homophobia and other prejudices at Christian colleges in the fourth Soulforce Q Equality Ride.

Music Keeping Up With Ke$ha
The hard-partying “Tik Tok” singer lives up to her wild reputation with stories of a fantasy all-girl sleepover with Shakira and Sarah Palin, bashing critics of her bisexuality, and sharing her love of trans women.

Television Casting Dancing With the Gay Stars

NOM's Maggie Gallagher facing off with antigay Rep. Sally Kern? Neil Patrick Harris upstaging André Leon Talley? The Advocate makes its picks for the ultimate gay Dancing With the Stars lineup.

Art The Art of the Possible

Alex Blas joins hundreds of other artists for the four-day Manifest Equality event, an intersection of art and activism he says has the power to mobilize change. Check out his work here.

News "Ex-Gay" Group to Oversee Day of Truth

Exodus International, a religious-based organization and supporter of "conversion therapy" for gays and lesbians, takes the reins for a nationwide school event launched to counter GLSEN's Day of Silence.

News Features Madam Governor?

Kristin Davis, the madam who claims she arranged female escorts for former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, announced she's running for governor Monday on a pro–marriage equality, prostitution, and pot platform.

Books In the World of Boys

A straight Egyptian author writes about gay relationships in a positive way ... and overcomes discrimination and multiple rejections to publish a best seller poised for an English translation.

Photography Artist Spotlight: Kevin Amato

From sidewalk staring to street casting, photographer Kevin Amato says he finds beauty everywhere he looks.

Books Ellen DeGeneres Gets Her Toon On
Following in the footsteps of J.K. Rowling and Sarah Palin, Ellen DeGeneres is about to get the comic book treatment. Check out a preview here.

Film Kimberly Reed: Golden Boy Makes Good
Once a star high school quarterback, transgender lesbian filmmaker Kimberly Reed wants to march in your pride parade and wield her newfound power like Oprah. Just don’t ask about her genitals.

Commentary Yes to the Crown, No to the Queen

COMMENTARY: Jimmy Nguyen, the lawyer who defended Miss California USA against Carrie Prejean, says religious beliefs and an antigay platform are the new way to get your name known on the pageant circuit.

News The Advocate at the Olympics Part 2
OlympicsOrBust.com's Tyler and Charley get up close with athletes in Whistler, sit down with 1992 gold medalist Mark Tewksbury and whip up some Olympic spirit.