Posted on 12/29/2013 3:23:28 AM PST by markomalley
A San Diego woman Thursday called for a boycott of the Rose Parade because two Los Angeles men will be married atop a float themed “Love is the Best Protection.” The cake-shaped float is sponsored by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and is the group’s third entry in the New Year’s parade.
Karen Grube, of San Diego, said the Tournament of Roses should remove the AHF float from the parade. She has also called on corporate sponsors to remove their support of the parade if the wedding goes on as planned. And, she has set up a Facebook page seeking support for her cause.
“Gay marriage is illegal in over 30 states, why would they promote something that is blatantly illegal?” Grube said. “That’s just stupid.”
The 2014 Rose Parade is the first where gay marriage has been legal in California, following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June that deemed Proposition 8 unconstitutional.
Grube also said she didn’t think the Tournament should be involved in a group’s “political agenda.”
“It used to be a family thing, to get up on New Year’s Day morning and watch the parade,” she said. “It no longer is.”
Danny Leclair said the negative reaction over the planned wedding to his long-time partner Aubrey Loots has not diminished his enthusiasm for his special day.
“It’s something that they don’t understand and so I expected it,” he said. “We’re not dissuaded or upset or concerned. We’re simply acknowledging it.”
While Leclair describes some of the negative comments he has read as “heinous,” others he says, are “people taking a stand for something they believe in.”
“There’s a lot of people who think we’re doing this as a political statement,” he said. “It couldn’t be further from the truth. Our stance is love is love and love will save lives.”
Leclair said he hopes his wedding, which will be broadcast around the world to an estimated 68 million people, will show people that gay marriage isn’t something to fear.
Ralph E. Shaffer, a professor emeritus of history at Cal Poly Pomona, had a different opinion.
He said the wedding is an “in your face” act that might only harden people’s views towards gays.
“The problem is going to be the wedding kiss,” Shaffer said, adding that the couple will likely kiss several times during the parade as would be expected for a couple on their wedding day. “I don’t know what the response is going to be,” he said.
AHF President Michael Weinstein said the boycotters should respect, “the law of the land” and denied the non-profit organization was making a political statement.
“There are as many opinions in the world as there are people, but our motivation is to validate the love that exists between same-sex couples and what we believe is the importance of validating these relationships in terms of protecting, particularly gay men from HIV and other STDs,” he said. “We think the more we promote stable, long-term relationships, the better it will be.”
In a prepared statement, TofR officials said they welcomed the entry — and the wedding.
“Like all of our sponsors and float designers, AHF continues to help make the Rose Parade a premier event through original and creative expressions that connect to parade themes — as this float does,” the statement read.
Grube said her call for a parade boycott has nothing to with religious convictions.
She said she does not agree with having any marriage — gay or straight — celebrated during the parade.
In recent days several area residents have expressed similar sentiments. Michael E. Thornton, a retired disabled veteran, said he will not be watching due to religious beliefs.
“Celebrating this ungodly activity is repugnant to me spiritually and I will not support this practice financially by viewing the parade,” he wrote in an email to this newspaper.
TOURNAMENT SPONSORS
http://www.tournamentofroses.com/RoseParade.aspx
The site has sponsors crawling at the bottom of the page. Maybe someone with the time can look and post all of them.
> TOURNAMENT SPONSORS
http://www.tournamentofroses.com/RoseParade.aspx
The site has sponsors crawling at the bottom of the page. Maybe someone with the time can look and post all of them.
There are so many of them that it would take awhile and looking at many of them I’d say they’re probably not aware that the gay agenda was at work in this parade. Disney - I can see that; Hallmark - I doubt they knew about it beforehand. They are probably just regular annual sponsors.
Putin has it right. It is necessary to protect our children from these perverts.
What's wrong with us?
God bless this woman and damn the judges and politicians who have shoveled this evil crap on our already deteriorating nation.
18. Gain control of all student newspapers.
20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions.
21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.
22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."
23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."
25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.
I just picked out a few items that stand out to me as areas or professions that conservatives could enter and make a change, but choose not to. Too busy patting themselves on the back for having real jobs while Rome burns
Maybe when I get home from work I will have time to make a list. I don’t want to single out a few. I want to notify all of them, even if they are local CA. I am feeling empowered after A&E and Cracker Barrel! LOL
There seem to be only negro homosexuals and lesbians attempting to ruin an Alabama Christmas.
TofR officials said they welcomed the entry — and the wedding.
Which is why I will NEVER watch it again, and will NEVER buy ANYTHING from any Sponsor thereof.
I’d rather see Phil and Miss Kay up there. But I won’t be watching anyway.
The LORD GOD COMPELS ME TO SHUN ALL THINGS EVIL... I WILL NEVER WATCH ANOTHER ROSE BOWL PARADE FOR AS LONG AS I LIVE!
Aids could be eradicated by a two pronged approach...
1) sit down and remain seated
2) keep your mouth shut
http://www.tournamentofroses.com/General/contactus.aspx
Love will save lives? So I guess their self control is so limited they couldn’t remain monogamous without the symbolism of a marriage?
The AIDS epidemic is currently spreading because of a one prong approach.
I plan not to watch as well. Used to be one of those things you did on NYD, but not any longer.
I will not knowingly support the home agenda.
>> Hallmark - I doubt they knew about it beforehand. They are probably just regular annual sponsors. <<
I pretty sure they knew as they sell wedding cards for “non-traditional weddings”.
http://hallmark.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2632
I'll continue to support the home agenda so long as I remain in charge of it!
Anal monogamy still kills.
These mindless non-gay supporters should reflect on dipping their children in the city sewage treatment collection as a health spa treatment.
correction...HOMO agenda. Can’t support it.
I’ll support the HOME agenda as well.
seems like a no-brainer to me
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