In addition to the defeats of Section 3 of DOMA discussed in the previous blog post, a more symbolic - as opposed substantive - defeat of marriage equality opponents occurred. The Today Show announced that it was relenting in its exclusion of same sex couples from its wedding contest. Blogger friend Jeremy Hooper at Good As You first sounded the alarm on Today's discriminatory position and after catching incredible flax, Today has opened up it contest to same sex couples who enter the contest before July 12, 2010. I can already hear the shrieks and conniptions of Maggie Gallagher and other professional anti-gay leeches, I mean activists, who live the good life off of the donations of sheeple. Maggie must have wet herself on the news and the spittle has to be flying around self-loathing closet cases Robert Knight, Matt Barber, Porno Pete LaBarbera and Peter Sprigg. No doubt the American Family Association will be rolling out a boycott of Today come the morning. Here are some highlights from GLAAD's announcement on Today's about face:*
Following a meeting between GLAAD and NBC executives NBC announced that after listening to community concerns it will open the contest to same-sex couples. In addition to opening the contest NBC is extending the application period until this Monday, July 12. Finalists will be announced later this year and the wedding takes place live on the Today Show this October.
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"We're thrilled that 'Today Show's 'Modern Wedding Contest' now recognizes what most fair-minded Americans have already concluded - a wedding celebrates love and commitment, whether the spouses are straight or gay," said Jarrett Barrios, President of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). "NBC heard GLAAD and the thousands of viewers who contacted them. And they have moved to make their contest a truly modern wedding where any couple can share their story. NBC is living up to its own high standard of fairness and for this, we applaud them. We encourage qualified same-sex couples to submit their applications to make the new contest submission deadline of Monday, July 12 and we look forward to next year when same-sex couples will have the ability to apply to the contest from the beginning."
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Here's some of Today's spin on the about face:
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Our intent was not to be discriminatory or exclusive. In 2005 when the wedding took place outside of New York, the application process was open to same-sex couples. We have listened to every voicemail and read every email. We take this feedback seriously, and we will change our application process. TODAY is a longtime supporter of the LGBT community, and GLAAD considers us an ally. We are committed to keeping those relationships strong and positive. We have opened up the application process to same-sex couples, and will extend the deadline to Monday, July 12. Moving forward, we ensure that our future wedding contests will be inclusive of all couples.
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