Romney's Religious Rituals

Check out this video of Romney's Mormon church rituals that recently surfaced. I believe everybody has the right to freely practice any religion. But isn't it interesting how scared so many Americans are that Obama is Muslim, when he isn't (not that there would be anything wrong if we were). When Mitt Romney is Mormon, and that's a fact. He's a member of the same "church" that operates like a political action committee - that was responsible for funneling in endless amounts of out of state money to pass Prop 8 in California. The same "church" that believes in replacing civil government and policy with their own. Which happens to include wearing magic underwear. Can you imagine how afraid Americans would be if Obama were Mormon? The republicans are very lucky Romney is white, or he wouldn't stand a chance.

New from NOM.

Obama will force EVERYONE to get gay-married.

Same-sex couples missing from marriage equality ads

Take a look at this interesting piece from the AP. While many in the LGBT community are upset that many marriage equality ads running this election season don't feature same-sex couples, I think that's the right strategy given what's happened in every other state that's had this issue on the ballot right now. As unfortunate as it may be, I believe showing same-sex couples prominently would be interpreted by most of mainstream Americans as a request for total acceptance, something that may go contrary to their religious beliefs. If we want to win, we shouldn't be asking mainstream conservative Americans for approval of us or our lives – and quite frankly, we don't need it. But we should be asking them to separate those personal views from our basic rights at the ballot box – and to do so in the name of American ideals we all share, like the right to the pursuit of happiness.

Ad Spotlight: Washington United for Marriage

Campaign Launched to Support Marriage Equality in November's Election

The Four 2012 is an online campaign to help support marriage equality in the four states it's on the ballot in November: Washington, Maine, Maryland, and Minnesota. It looks like they're encouraging user-generated content, but I don't see much. So why not consider contributing something? Just go the site and click submit.

Here's a word of encouragement from Maryland governor Martin O'Malley:


By the way, to support marriage equality, people should vote YES in Washington, Maine, and Maryland to legalize it. In Minnesota, the vote is just to enshrine the existing ban into the constitution, so people should vote NO there.

Ad Spotlight: Campaign for American Values

They better clear a space for a Cannes Lion...

Obama Campaign Responds to Ryan's Controversial RNC Speech

Jan Brewer Endorses Obama at GOP Convention

This is great.

Vote No to Minnesota's Marriage Discrimination Amendment

Take a look at this new ad from Minnesotans for Equality, which I did the strategy for. Really proud of how it turned out... please share with your friends and encourage any Minnesotans you know to vote NO!

New Santorum Campaign Ad

Lagging behind in the polls, it looks like Santorum is trying to appeal to the religious extremists by telling them that God told him to run for President. The ad, by the way, says nothing about why he'd make a good president. 

Marriage Equality TV Ad Launches in Oregon

At least this appears to be targeted to the right audience- traditional, middle class American voters with some conservative/religious values.

Have You Voted Yet Today?

Today's GLBT History Month Icon: Our Hometown Gal, The FABULOUS Annise Parker

Working with the Dallas Stonewall Young Democrats on Annise's campaign last year and then watching her get elected was one of the most fulfilling things I've ever done. I hope more young people and more LGBT young people in particular will realize how exciting and important it is to get involved. We have the brains, hearts, and connections to work many more political wonders if we only realized it. Progress doesn't just happen on its own. It requires not just work, but work that is harder and smarter than the forces already working against you. But in the end, helping make something happen that nobody thought was possible is one of the greatest feelings there is. 

Campell's Soup Situation Gets Even Uglier

-PLEASE SEE ABOVE UPDATE REGARDING THIS STORY-

Request Foods, the Campbell’s Soup affiliate that teamed up with the “Family Research Council” to run this discriminatory ad advocating against civil rights, is an even dirtier company than we thought. Thanks to a tip from a BrandFabulousness reader, I learned that the president of Request is a guy named Jack DeWitt, who has a long history of contributing toward anti-civil rights causes, and is even rumored to have ties to Eric Prince of Blackwater Security. Isn't it amazing that Campell's would have any ties whatsoever to such an inhumane company that would sponsor this piece of garbage? Especially considering Campbell's excellent track record with the LGBT community?

Fame Friday

“I want a performance-oriented government that produces results... That's contrary to a government based on sound bites and images.” -Bill White, Rick Perry's Democratic opponent in the 2010 Texas Governor's race. 

Houston Hopes Parker's Election Will Fuel Gay Tourism

By DAVID KAPLAN HOUSTON CHRONICLE Dec. 21, 2009, 6:46AM

The election of Annise Parker as Houston's first gay mayor has given a boost to the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau's push to attract gay visitors.

In her 12 years as an elected city official, Parker rarely centered her public policies on her sexual orientation, but the visitors bureau still hopes to capitalize on it.

Houston historically has not been a popular destination for gay and lesbian travelers, according to U.S. Travel Association data. Last month, independent of mayoral politics, the visitors bureau launched an online effort to reach out to them.

Regardless of whether Parker's election boosts that effort directly, at the least it could help change the perception of Houston, according to a longtime tourism consultant. Houston drew international attention earlier this month when it became the largest U.S. city to elect an openly gay mayor.

It “makes Houston seem more tolerant and gay-friendly,” said David Paisley, senior program director of Community Marketing, a San Francisco-based marketing and consulting firm that works primarily with the gay and lesbian tourism industry.

On the convention-business side, Paisley said gay- and lesbian-specific conventions will be more likely to book Houston. There are more than 100 gay and lesbian trade associations.

Having Parker officially welcome their gatherings — as mayors often do at conventions — would be a plus, Paisley said.

It is possible Parker's election can also bring more mainstream conventions to Houston, he said. When planning conventions, organizations in the social sciences and legal professions look for cities that welcome diversity.

“The election of Parker will be on the radar of these organizations,” said Bob Witeck, CEO of Washington-based Witeck-Combs Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that researches the gay and lesbian community for the U.S. Travel Association.

Recent inroads

Though Houston is not about to replace cities such as New York or San Francisco as gay and lesbian vacation destinations, Paisley said, it has an opportunity to become a stronger second-tier destination.

In this region, New Orleans and Dallas have been bigger draws, Paisley said, although Austin and Houston have made some recent gains.

“It's going to take some work,” he said, but the election of Parker will help.

‘Online welcome mat'

A wise approach for any city's convention and visitors bureau is to go after both vacationing families and two-income couples with no children because the two groups tend to stay at different hotels and visit different venues, Paisley said.

Many gay men and lesbians are in dual income-no children relationships, he noted.

Holly Clapham, vice president of marketing at the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said it is going after gay and lesbian travelers because “it's about growing the economy.”

Gay people go on vacation more often per year than the national average and spend more on each vacation than the national average, she said, referring to U.S. Travel Association data.

In November the Convention and Visitors Bureau launched a “My Gay Houston” campaign, mirroring its “My Houston” campaign that began last year.

In the “My Houston” campaign, Houston-born celebrities and other local professionals give testimonials about their city. The My Gay Houston campaign is similar.

The bureau isn't planning ads promoting My Gay Houston, but it created a Web site, mygayhouston.com, and hopes word will spread.

“It's an online welcome mat,” Clapham said:

It's too early to say how Parker as mayor will affect gay and lesbian travel to Houston, Clapham said, but “her brand is now associated with our product.”

The reaction among many outsiders when they heard Parker was elected was, “‘Wow, this happened in Houston!'” Clapham said. “Certainly there is buzz and awareness out there.”

People won't come here just because of her election, she said, “but this could open windows to them considering Houston.”

Parker: ‘Behind the curve'

When the Houston Chronicle asked Parker about the bureau's campaign, she said Houston has been “behind the curve” in reaching out to gay and lesbian travelers, and she is glad the bureau is making an effort.

Asked whether she'd be willing to be part of the online campaign with other local gay and lesbian professionals if the bureau asked her, she said: “I just want to promote Houston” and later added, “I'm proud to market this city in any way I can.”

Annise Parker Wins Houston Mayoral Election!!!!

We did it! We helped Houston make history! Annise Parker will be the next mayor of Houston, making Houston the largest city in the country to elect an openly gay mayor. 

Read more here

Fame Friday

The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.
-John F. Kennedy

Cast Your Vote to Help Houston Make History NOW!

Early voting has now begun in the Houston mayoral runoff election. Please tell every Houstonian you know to get out and vote for Annise Parker NOW! If elected, Annise would be the first gay mayor of a major U.S. city. Not to mention, she's far and away the most qualified candidate for the job. You can find your early voting location by clicking here.

No on 1 Campaign Documentary Video

Love the quote at the end: 
"If marriage equality is to be fought for on a state-by-state basis, then our
national gay rights organizations should hold the DNC and President Obama
responsible for their inaction."



Thanks to JoeMyGod for posting these originally.