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10/14/2008
Towleroad Guide to the Tube #374: 'No on Prop 8' Edition
Here are the four ads created by HOMOtracker, one of which we featured earlier this morning. As I mentioned, HOMOtracker is a small group of gay and lesbian Hollywood entertainment industry professionals who created the ads in a grassroots effort to mobilize and help defeat Proposition 8 on November 4th.
The two spots in the first row feature Molly Ringwald and Margaret Cho.
See our initial post here, and donate to 'No on Prop 8' HERE.
Posted 5:10 PM EST by Andy Towle in California, Gay Marriage, News | Permalink
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What I have noticed is that the Mormons in my southern California county have started putting "Yes on 8" bumperstickers on their cars and "Yes on 8" lawn signs in front of their houses. There are quite a few bumperstickers and lawn signs. So far I've only seen one "No on 8" lawn sign.
I hope people even those from outside California will consider making a contribution, however modest, because unfortunately this is really just a matter of how much is spent on the campaign. A proposition like this can often be passed with enough of a cash infusion, and the Mormons have a lot.
Posted by: JJ | Oct 14, 2008 5:24:10 PM
Yay! I just donated!
Even though I am not in California, I think it's important to share some of the love (and funds) I had been giving Obama's way.
Posted by: jeffy | Oct 14, 2008 5:27:16 PM
This election worries me so much. I have been donating time and money to No On Prop 8 but it never feels like enough. Last weekend my partner and I drove home from Vegas to LA, and couldn't believe how many "Yes On 8" signs we saw out in the desert. It's scary to think that even in California, with all the other problems currently affecting society, that people chose to make banning gay marriage such a priority.
Posted by: Devin Tait | Oct 14, 2008 5:37:18 PM
I'm sorry - are these wonderful ads on-line only? If they are, it's a waste.
Look at where the greatest support for this amendment lies: with the elderly, the poor, and ethnic minorities (ironic, I know). These are groups that spend less time on the internet than anyone.
These ads are fun, but they'll do no good beaming to laptops in coffee houses. Unless these get airtime on TV, the people we most need to reach will never see them.
Posted by: Yeek | Oct 14, 2008 5:38:25 PM
Sweet. How can I get to know the NO guy ? I want to ask him to marry me once Prop 8 is defeated.
Posted by: darbari | Oct 14, 2008 5:42:24 PM
add this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd_ai2LrgJ0
Ellen Degeneres makes a direct appeal.
Posted by: le_sacre | Oct 14, 2008 5:44:00 PM
And the last two feature Bob Stevenson from Jericho and every commercial known to man.
Thank you, Bob. I appreciate your visiting our team for some pro bono.
Posted by: Joe Bua | Oct 14, 2008 5:47:35 PM
These are fantastic! I would love to see them on TV.
Posted by: Tweety | Oct 14, 2008 5:49:59 PM
Finally, some spots from people who know what the hell they're doing!!
SCREW the NO ON 8 committee! How do I donate money to HOMOtracker???
Posted by: David B. | Oct 14, 2008 5:50:33 PM
Has anyone asked Ellen DeGeneres directly whether or not she has any particular reason as to why she has chosen NOT to donate to "No on 8"? I'd be interested in her reasons.
I know its a delicate question, but isn't that why we have reporters.
Posted by: JJ | Oct 14, 2008 5:51:13 PM
I'm sorry, but the people who made these ads are idiots.
They go out and put all this work into making ads to convince middle of the road straight people to vote against prop 8. Then they slap "HOMO" up there in big letters.
I'm sure they felt really empowered by embracing the word "homo," but they completely undermined the fight to beat the fucking ballot initiative. Straight people are uncomfortable with homos. That's the problem. The more they think about homos, the more likely they are to support Prop 8.
I hope the people at HOMOtracker enjoy their goddamn moral victory. They're clearly more interested in that than in actually winning.
Posted by: Drew | Oct 14, 2008 5:51:46 PM
I'm tired of over-saturation on this issue ...
I live in Ohio. Where was all the hubbub over my state passing the same constitutional measure in 2004?
I guess because this is California- who, along with New York, are really the only states that matter.
I can't marry the man I love, but God forbid if Joe Schmo in Sacramento can't either.
It's not fair.
Posted by: Rodney | Oct 14, 2008 5:52:35 PM
JJ,
Perhaps because the last time Ellen took a political position on gay rights, it destroyed her career.
Posted by: Rodney | Oct 14, 2008 5:57:15 PM
Rodney, sorry you feel that way. i think there are two reasons:
1) just the reality that a lot more people live in california, and it contains two cities with some of the largest lgbt populations on the planet.
2) unlike every previous state battle, we are fighting to KEEP rights that we just won. many thousands of couples are fighting to keep their new marriages from being anulled. that's part of the reason why there's so much talk about california, even though florida and arizona also have anti-equality amendments on the ballot this year.
Posted by: le_sacre | Oct 14, 2008 5:57:23 PM
YEEK: It depends which ethnic minority and what age range you're talking about. In general, Asian and Pacific Islanders spend the same if not more time using the Internet as whites.
Posted by: shoepins | Oct 14, 2008 6:14:37 PM
Drew:
As a member of HOMOtracker, I'm sorry you disapprove of our group name. We are a networking group in the entertainment industry. We don't feel the need to hide who we are, HOMOsexuals. And our name existed before this initiative was placed on the ballot. On top of these series of viral videos we are also holding a fundraiser this Thursday at LA's Cinespace in Hollywood. Your $20 donation goes toward defeating Prop. 8 and there's an open bar. Hope to see any LA dwellers there.
Posted by: sugarrhill | Oct 14, 2008 7:09:56 PM
Agreed... if they're going for mainstream, calling themselves HOMOtracker probably isn't the greatest move. In fact, even if they aren't, it isn't a very good name.
Posted by: alonganong | Oct 14, 2008 7:18:40 PM
Finally something that is simple, entertaining and drives home the important points about why one should vote NO on Prop 8 -- please get these spots on TV -- sooner the better.
Posted by: robertmalcolm | Oct 14, 2008 7:25:20 PM
Awe, is that Autumn Reeser from THE OC in one of them?
Posted by: JD | Oct 14, 2008 7:33:01 PM
sugarrhill -- It's not that I disapprove of your name. I don't care about your name. I care about the foolish choice to make your message less palatable to the swing voters who will decide the fate of Prop 8 and the people of California.
Using a snarky name undermines your message, and I'm angry that you would waste desperately needed anti-8 money to push an ad designed with the feelings of the funders, not behavior of the voters, in mind.
I don't care if you want to hide who you are or not. I care if we win. I wish you felt the same way.
Posted by: Drew | Oct 14, 2008 8:19:10 PM
Who gives a crap what they call themselves. HOMOtracker is fine with me. I think the ads are fantastic... the constitution one hit the nail on the head. If someone votes to put discrimination into the California constitution because they don't like the word HOMO - THEY ARE AN IDIOT! In fact, anyone is an idiotic bigot if they vote for Prop 8 - there is simply no amount of spin which can justify it. Again, bravo to HOMOtracker! Would be great if we could somehow see a few of these on TV... but in the meantime, send them to all your friends and ask them to forward them on... they are intended to be viral videos. Look at all the urban rumors which are completely untrue that propagate thru the email into the mainstream. Spread them far, spread them wide my friends... it only takes a few keystrokes...
Posted by: Mike | Oct 14, 2008 8:32:14 PM
Rodney, as Le_Sacre pointed out, it isn't because California is more important than all the other states.
This is a big deal because gay marriages are already legal here. The California Supreme Court found that the equal protection clause in the state constitution GUARANTEES the right for same-sex couples to marry.
Proposition 8 seeks to amend the constitution to eliminate that right.
In Ohio and most other states that have passed amendements banning gay marriage, gay marriage was already banned by state statute.
In Ohio, you were never allowed to get married. In California, you currently can.
We face a slippery slope when we allow people to start using the constitution to eliminate rights.
Where do the draw the line. Will we always allow the majority to amend the constitution any way the want and eliminate the rights of people they disagree with?
It's a very scary proposition, specifically because the Court found that we have that right under the EQUAL PROTECTION clause. They are essentially eliminating us from that protection and making us second-class citizens under the state constitution.
Posted by: Eric | Oct 14, 2008 8:49:21 PM
@ Rodney
Boo Fucking Hoo!
Nobody cares because you're in Ohio...
and because you're a Douche.
Posted by: digger | Oct 14, 2008 9:26:15 PM
The BIGGEST error made with the M.Cho psa is the use of the Religious Right Wing term "Gay Marriage". DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER. "Gay Marriage" was coined by the RR to promote the YES on Prop 8 concept. "Gay Marriage" is something special, something unique, something ONLY GAY people can get. Straight people won't have a "Gay Marriage". WHY oh why do people insist on using a term that puts the power firmly in the hands of those that want to deny marriage equality to all Americans? WHY? Please for the sake of equality don't use the term "Gay Marriage" there is only Marriage.
Posted by: Sargon Bighorn | Oct 14, 2008 10:30:31 PM
The BIGGEST error made with the M.Cho psa is the use of the Religious Right Wing term "Gay Marriage". DANGER WILL ROBINSON DANGER. "Gay Marriage" was coined by the RR to promote the YES on Prop 8 concept. "Gay Marriage" is something special, something unique, something ONLY GAY people can get. Straight people won't have a "Gay Marriage". WHY oh why do people insist on using a term that puts the power firmly in the hands of those that want to deny marriage equality to all Americans? WHY? Please for the sake of equality don't use the term "Gay Marriage" there is only Marriage.
Posted by: Sargon Bighorn | Oct 14, 2008 10:32:10 PM