This may be the first ever LGBT specific presidential ad.
Just days until the second Super Tuesday in Ohio and Texas and the Barack Obama presidential campaign is targeting the LGBT community in Ohio and Texas. "According to Obama LGBT steering committee member Eric Stern," reports Kerry Eleveld at Advocate.com. "The campaign has just completed an ad buy with queer newspapers in the four largest LGBT markets of those two states—Columbus, Cleveland, Dallas, and Houston."
The full-page ads debut tomorrow in Outlook Weekly of Columbus, the Gay People's Chronicle of Cleveland, the Dallas Voice, and Houston-based OutSmart. Stampp Corbin, the black gay co-chair of Sen. Obama's National LGBT Leadership Council, created the ads and tells Andrew Belonsky at Queerty the media buy "underscore[s] the Senator’s commitment of inclusion" because "it is the first time in any presidential campaign, let alone a primary, for there to be an LGBT specific message in an ad. There were LGBT press ad buys in 2004 but the message was the same message being placed in traditional media."
Meanwhile, the presidential candidate himself—okay, probably a speechwriter—pens a guest editorial at Bil Browning's Bilerico. It's an impressive argument that says simply having strong positions on LGBT issues is only half the battle. "The
other half is to win broad support for those positions. And winning
broad support will require stepping outside our comfort zone. If we
want to repeal DOMA, repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and implement fully
inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and discrimination in the
workplace, we need to bring the message of LGBT equality to skeptical
audiences as well as friendly ones."
It's a powerful message and something we've seen Obama demonstrate to white anti-choice evangelicals, advocating gay rights to the Christian Broadcasting Network and speaking out against homophobia at Ebenezer Baptist.
Obama Makes Gay Ad Buys [Advocate]
Open Letter From B. Obama to LGBT Community [Bilerico]
Obama's Gay Push [Queerty]
Obama's Gay Backers: Stampp Corbin [Queerty]
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Took me a while, but I love my long, brown sugar, Slim Jim now. And don't start that "Johnny come lately shit". Barack wasn't sayin' much before, now he's irresistible...always been cute. We've never had a cute president--no, not even Big Cigar Bill. No.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 28 February 2008 at 14:27
LMAO. Welcome to the fold, Derrick. Have a sippa' Kool-Aid.
Posted by: Andy Niable | 28 February 2008 at 17:56
Obama appeared before a black congregation in Beaumont Texas and told them that it was un-Christian to hate gay people just because they are gay. Now, have you EVER heard of a politician having the courage to do such a thing? (Except Jesse and Al Sharpton, of course). But there was no alterior motive for Obama to do this. He did & said what was right...and from his heart. I like that.
Yes, Andy, I'll sip all the Obama Kool-Aid I can now. Can I put a little Vodka in it, please? About a half-pint, please.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 29 February 2008 at 12:19
Ya want it straight or on the rocks? (Oh... wait a minute...)
Posted by: Andy Niable | 29 February 2008 at 13:46
The day I learn that proof reading includes checking spelling. "ulterior" Sorry. Anyway, Barack Obama is showing incredible courage and acting like a leader. After March 4th we can get on with the task of reconciliation within the Democratic Party. Am I jumping ahead? Not really. Senator Clinton is a smart woman and politician; she'll know that it's over after next Tuesday.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 29 February 2008 at 15:20