NC: Online video campaign kicks off to fight marriage discrimination amendment

[xchrom]

http://pamshouseblend.firedoglake.com/2011/12/01/nc-online-video-campaign-kicks-off-to-fight-marriage-discrimination-amendment/

With little time to make an impact (the primary with the amendment on the ballot is May 8, 2012), one of the most powerful and persuasive arguments that discrimination enshrined into North Carolina’s constitution is wrong and damaging is to show those who are targeted by this bigotry — real gay and lesbian couples and families.

In The Life Media today announced the launch of a series of online videos about marriage equality produced in partnership with Freedom to Marry and with the generous support from The Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund. The videos, featuring the voices of real gay and lesbian couples telling their stories, emphasize that same-sex couples want to marry for similar reasons to straight couples and illustrate how denying couples access to marriage can cause real harm and challenge a family’s ability to care for each other. These videos demonstrate the power of personal stories of love and commitment, told through media, to educate the public on this issue.

“With these videos, In The Life Media is creating media with a mission. Our partnership with Freedom to Marry and Equality North Carolina is a perfect example of how we can effectively use media to change the hearts and minds of Americans on the issue of marriage equality” said In The Life Media’s Executive Director Michelle Kristel. “Our new web site was designed to provide our viewers with the tools to participate in a meaningful way with our content and engage in conversations and take action on issues important to the LGBT community,” concluded Kristel.

And education is sorely needed, because while polls show North Carolinians support legal recognition of same-sex couples, it’s another matter to get those in favor of fairness to out to vote — to give straight allies (as well as LGBTs) the information they need to speak to their friends and neighbors to motivate them with facts about what this amendment will do.

[William769]

1. Highly recommended.