A horrifying new ad promoting travel to the U.S. that features *shocker* a diverse selection of citizens has is set to give the international community the wrong (read: tolerant) picture of America.
At least that's the sentiment seeping out of a pissed off Tony Perkins today, who has blasted a new tourism ad that features a diverse cross-section of Americans, including two-seconds of screen time for a gay couple.
Said Perkins on his radio show about the above innocuous ad:
A new batch of U.S. travel ads should send some leaders packing--permanently. Hello, I'm Tony Perkins with the Family Research Council in Washington, D.C. In 236 years, America's never had an international tourism ad. So when Congress passed the Travel Promotion Act, people thought it'd be a great chance to highlight American attractions. What they didn't know is that it would highlight same-sex attractions. That's right. The commercial invites people to America-not to see the Grand Canyon, but to celebrate homosexuality. In one scene, a gay man is sleeping on his partner's shoulder in a trolley. The actors said they were specifically recruited to add a "homosexual presence" to the commercial. According to Brand USA, the ads were supposed to "open up some minds as to what America really is"-which, based on this commercial, is a country of radical values and backwards priorities. I suppose this is part of the President's push to "rebrand" America. It's just too bad he used a travel ad to feature so much cultural baggage.
Are you as offended by the ad—which also includes Muslim- and Hindu- Americans—as Perkins?
There are gay people in the world and they travel. If I'd only blinked at the right moment I wound't have had to see them in this ad at all.
It blows my mind that this backwards thinking is still so rampant these days. My husband and I were on a bus at Walt Disney World and two young girls with their family saw us with my arm across the top of the seat back that my husband was sitting in and the girls no older then 8 or 9 were making gaging motions and snickering and whispering. So sad to see that parents are teaching their children this discriminatory and offensive behavior. Makes me sad and angry.
+1
... written by Dana,
May 31, 2012
What's to be offended about? I personally know the bearded man Tony Perkins is raging against, and am very proud indeed to call Edward R. Cox my friend. Having lived in Europe for nearly ten years, I didn't see the hatred toward homosexuality I do here in the states.
+3
... written by Wendy G Kennedy,
May 31, 2012
This Ad is cute, what I don't get is why some people are making such a ruckus about "two gay men" together on the seat of a Street Car, they were't kissing or making sexualy explicitit gestures. my BFF Edward R Cox and a cute guy were nicely next to each other... That could have been two brothers or two good friend for all that matters... What would those haters do if the next Ad features a group of Drag Queens like me??? OMG!
+3
... written by Jude Nola,
May 31, 2012
What an idiot!! In the first place, it's a streetcar, not a "trolley". What offends me is that there is still this sort of closed-minded thinking in America. The hatemongering needs to stop.
+1
... written by Alvin123,
May 31, 2012
Huh!!! You mean there are gay people in america? I honestly didn't know that. Have to strike america off my travel list.....
+1
... written by NMTC,
June 01, 2012
The hatemongering needs to stop. Is this Tony Perkins character insecure about his sexuality? Why is he so worried about what they next guy is doing... try cleaning up your own house Mr. Perkins! God created EQUAL individuals and we all deserve EQUALITY... stop the narrow~minded hate!!!
It blows my mind that this backwards thinking is still so rampant these days. My husband and I were on a bus at Walt Disney World and two young girls with their family saw us with my arm across the top of the seat back that my husband was sitting in and the girls no older then 8 or 9 were making gaging motions and snickering and whispering. So sad to see that parents are teaching their children this discriminatory and offensive behavior. Makes me sad and angry.