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.

Barack Obama's Inauguration: A Day To Rejoice

By CHRISTOPHER HICKS-MARSHALL a.k.a. CHUMA

As I read today's CNN commentary by Democratic strategist Donna Brazile regarding the inauguration, I felt a profound sense of pride and emotion. To think that today Barack Obama became our first African American President is a bit overwhelming for me as a black man. With all that I know about the racial prejudices of this country, I never would have thought this day would have arrived in my lifetime. For all, this is a day to rejoice, as quoted by Ms. Brazile below:

"This is the day for which so many prayed, so many marched and so many more sacrificed. This is a day of jubilation and celebration. This is the day to rejoice and recommit ourselves to restoring the American dream for us all. "For too long, race has been the stain on the American fabric. As Secretary Condoleezza Rice reminded us, race has been our "nation's birth defect." At times during the long primary and general election, race became a subtle distraction -- but the American people rejected it and it was never the primary issue. "Nor was it the primary issue for Americans who voted for Barack Obama. The vast majority of those who voted for and against Obama did so based on the content of his political prescriptions and platform -- not the color of his skin. "A lot of lessons were taught November 4. Obama's election revealed the possibility of three new truths for African-Americans: White America may not be as racist as African-Americans thought they were; a solution to our country's lingering racial problem may eventually be found; and the Rev. Martin Luther King's dream that one day all people will be judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin is alive and within reach." Read the full article here.

My company was gracious enough to host a viewing of the inauguration in the company dining room. For the first time, the clamor of silverware and the chatter of those that came there to feast was not heard. As eyes were fixated on Obama eloquently delivering his moving speech, the togetherness of silence unified everyone in the room. Eyes widened, tears fell, and smiles drew themselves on faces glowing with hope. It was a monumental moment, and everyone there was indelibly transfixed. I wonder if anyone else there almost forgot to breathe, because I did. :-)

If you missed the speech, or just want to watch it again, here it is below. Make sure you pause the music playing on the jukebox in the right sidebar in order to hear the speech.