November, 19 2009, 12:55pm EDT
Equality California to Air Ad Featuring Same-Sex Couple During MISS CALIFORNIA USA Pageant
SAN FRANCISCO
Equality
California (EQCA) will air an ad about the freedom to marry, featuring
Pasadena couple Frances and Cynthia with their daughter Mary Kate
during the broadcast of the MISS CALIFORNIA USA pageant on November 22.
"We
truly appreciate MISS CALIFORNIA USA offering us the opportunity to
share the story of this loving California family and how being denied
the freedom to marry has hurt them," said Geoff Kors, executive
director for Equality California. "By sharing their story, we hope to
shed light on the damage and pain that same-sex couples and their
children experience when they are prevented from entering into a civil
marriage."
EQCA
previously invited former MISS CALIFORNIA USA Carrie Prejean to meet
with leaders from the organization as well as with lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and a family headed by a
same-sex couple to start a dialogue about who LGBT people are and the
harm that is caused by denying LGBT community members equality.
Prejean, however, did not respond.
"The
MISS CALIFORNIA USA Organization does not endorse either side of the
issue but believes in fair play, so we have donated a 30-second spot to
Equality California and offered Carrie Prejean an opportunity to
pre-tape a brief message," said Keith Lewis, Executive Director of MISS
CALIFORNIA USA and MISS CALIFORNIA TEEN USA.
Prejean declined the offer.
The
ad will air Sunday, November 22, on the CW and MY networks during
the MISS CALIFORNIA USA pageant. Check local listings for details.
Equality California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots-based, statewide advocacy organization whose mission is to achieve equality and civil rights for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.
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