CHUMA SPIRIT Magazine

Los Angeles Affiliate KABC-TV Refuses to Air Ad With Gay Families During Inauguration: 'Too Controversial, Families Will Be Watching.'

TO HEAR THE AUDIO TO THIS VIDEO, PAUSE THE MUSIC PLAYING ON THE JUKEBOX IN THE RIGHT SIDEBAR

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Non-profit organization GetToKnowUsFirst.org produced five 30-second commercials featuring gay and lesbian families, with the message "Marriage promotes families. Support marriage equality." The ads, while not tied to any current election, are the result of California's passage of Proposition 8 in November. The group aired the spots in 42 of the states' 58 counties -- everywhere the initiative passed by 50% or more -- during Tuesday's coverage of the Presidential Inauguration. KABC is the only station that refused to sell the ad space.

The rejected ad profiles two African American men raising five children ages 6 through 25. Ironically, the family lives in Los Angeles.

Obama Pledges Support for the LGBT Community on Whitehouse.gov

Written by CHRISTOPHER HICKS-MARSHALL a.k.a. CHUMA

When Whitehouse.gov was erected on Inauguration Day, I took the time to read the agendas that the new Obama Administration plans to pursue. I was delighted to discover under the civil rights agendas something that is usually not underscored in presidential politics, and that is "Support for the LGBT Community." Yes everyone, it's right here. Read it for yourself.

"While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect." -- Barack Obama, June 1, 2007

This new administration promises to Expand Hate Crimes Statutes, Fight Workplace Discrimination, Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples, Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage, Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell, Expand Adoption Rights, Promote AIDS Prevention, and Empower Women to Prevent HIV/AIDS.

All I can say is that I absolutely love Obama. Hats off to him. Now let's just see it all unfold.

In the meantime, below is a survey for all those that have an opinion about this. Please let me know what you think.

Sharpton decries churches pushing Proposition 8

Atlanta alliance forms to counter anti-gay religious rhetoric
By MATT SCHAFER, Southern Voice | Jan 12, 5:17 PM

From the pulpit of Tabernacle Baptist Church on Sunday, Rev. Al Sharpton called out the Mormon Church and other conservative faiths for mobilizing to support Proposition 8 to ban gay marriage in California while refusing to be as involved in any other social concerns.

“It amazes me when I looked at California and saw churches that had nothing to say about police brutality, nothing to say when a young black boy was shot while he was wearing police handcuffs, nothing to say when the they overturned affirmative action, nothing to say when people were being delegated into poverty, yet they were organizing and mobilizing to stop consenting adults from choosing their life partners,” Sharpton told a packed audience on Jan. 11.

“There is something immoral and sick about using all of that power to not end brutality and poverty, but to break into people’s bedrooms and claim that God sent you,” Sharpton added.