In Brief

Staff Reports

U. S. Senator Jim DeMint R-SC

Political TV Ads Targeting Anti-Gay Jim DeMint Rankle His Supporters

CHARLESTON, SC -- A political advert campaign in the Palmetto state places emphasis on U. S. Senator Jim DeMint's stated belief that LGBT people shouldn't be allowed to teach in schools. This ad- which has been airing on Charleston area television stations since the end of June- has angered the senator's supporters who charge it falsely portrays DeMint as anti Semitic.

The ad begins with a hypothetical question: “What if you saw this headline? ‘Senator Jim DeMint: Jews Should Not Teach Public School,’” and then swaps the word “Gay” for “Jews” in the headline.

Charleston's Post and Courier newspaper reports that the senator's supporters contacted the Charleston area television stations which are running the 30-second television commercials and asked them to stop.

Warren Redman-Gress, executive director of the Alliance for Full Acceptance- a Charleston based LGBT and straight allies organisation- which paid for the controversial ad said;

“We are really thankful the TV stations see the value in what we’re doing, and, in that first salvo, have stood by us."

It's one of three ads from the group that use the same tactic to call out antigay bullying and attacks on students for supporting civil rights as part of its larger point about homophobia and its result in discriminatory laws. The Alliance group is reportedly spending upwards of $30,000 to air the ads while continuing to raise money to keep the ad campaign going.

The DeMint ad references a comment the South Carolina senator made during a debate in 2004. But it wasn't the only time DeMint has said gays shouldn't be allowed to teach. In October 2010, during a speech at the Greater Freedom Rally of conservative voters, he fought back, complaining that "no one came to my defense" for his comments while alleging that his fellow conservatives said quietly off the record to him that "that I shouldn't back down."

WATCH:

Equality Illinois Kicks Off a Statewide Campaign to Challenge Anti-Gay Policies of Chick-fil-A

Chef Art Smith, (Right) & husband Jesus Salguiero 

CHICAGO, IL -- LGBTQ equality rights advocacy group Equality Illinois is kicking off a multifaceted Flick-the-Hate campaign Tuesday to target the Illinois communities where Chick fil-A has franchises in response to the fast-food chain's anti-gay comments and millions in contributions to hateful anti-LGBT organizations.

The state’s oldest and largest LGBT rights organization and its partners are asking Illinois universities, businesses and municipalities to challenge the discriminatory policies of the fast food chain and to end all relationships with the individual restaurants.

Most of the 19 Chick fil-A restaurants in Illinois are on college campuses or in shopping malls.

"Chick fil-A wants to make a profit in places of public accommodation, including many of the state's public and private universities and shopping malls, while espousing hateful rhetoric," said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois. 

"As we question the company's anti-LGBT policies, we must ask the universities and mall owners why they want to do business with a company that holds up hate as a family value."

Celebrity Chef Art Smith and his husband Jesus Salguiero are lending their personal support to Equality Illinois by hosting a “Chicken Fry for Equality” fundraiser at their Chicago home this Sunday, July 29. Smith has been a vocal critic of the chain’s anti-equality stances, speaking out in media and online to voice his concerns.

"Jesus and I look to the day where the rest of Gay America will see and experience what we've enjoyed as a married gay couple," Smith said.

Following the fundraiser, the Flick-the-Hate campaign continues with a Statewide “Eat for Love Day” on Wednesday, August 1, when Equality Illinois supporters and allies statewide will be encouraged to eat at a local LGBT-friendly restaurant.

Equality Illinos is also launching a statewide petition asking university presidents and corporate mall executives to flick the hateful restaurants off their premises.

"Chick fil-A can continue to do unimpeded business in Illinois at a price, and that price is ending the use of the chain as a springboard for promoting policies that are harmful to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people," Cherkasov said.