
Maryland Marriage Alliance’s new ad suggests Question 6 would force schools to teach same-sex marriage. (Washington Blade photo by Michael K. Lavers)
The group opposed to a Maryland law extending marriage rights to same-sex couples began airing Thursday a new television ad that suggests parents would lose rights if Question 6 passes.
“If gay marriage happens here, schools could teach boys can marry boys,” says the Maryland Marriage Alliance ad.
The ad features David and Tania Parker, who unsuccessfully sued their son’s Lexington, Mass., school after he brought home a book that features two men who get married. David Parker claims he was arrested in 2005 because he demanded his son’s teachers not expose him to what court documents describe “as any further discussions of homosexuality.” A local newspaper reported police arrested and charged him with criminal trespassing after he refused to leave his son’s suburban Boston school.
“If Question 6 passes, same-sex marriage could be taught in local Maryland schools, just as it was in Massachusetts,” says Tania Parker in the Maryland Marriage Alliance ad. “Don’t make the same mistake and think that gay marriage won’t affect you.”
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins played a video that features the Parkers during an anti-Question 6 gathering at New Harvest Ministries in Baltimore on Oct. 21. Opponents of marriage rights for same-sex couples in Maine and in other states have previously argued nuptials for gays and lesbians would expose children to homosexuality in the classroom without their parents’ consent.
“Children learn values from their parents at home, and Question 6 doesn’t change that,” said Josh Levin, campaign manager for Marylanders for Marriage Equality.
“Parents, teachers and local school districts determine the public school curriculum in Maryland,” said Levin. “That, too will, never change. The ad is false and meant to scare voters.”
I can’t believe with all the money raised that there have been few pro-marriage ads in the DC market. I know it is expensive, but really? The tv should have been flooded with pro marriage ads. If 6 doesn’t pass, it is because we failed. We knew NOM and all the other hate groups would do this. We should have had 2x as many ads on tv.
The horror! The horror! You mean that equal justice under law for all Americans actually means that…all Americans will be taught to value everyone’s marriage equally, too?! Say it ain’t so! The sky might actually fall this time!
A short time ago, I saw an ad on TV supporting 6 which rightfully stated (with document in hand) that this anti-6 ad was flat out lying. It challenges the public to go on line and read the "civil marriage" equality law for themselves. BRAVO!
When the truth isn’t enough, the dumb bigots lie. But how ignorant is the general public? I personally don’t believe that the typical voter is completely stupid and living in ignorance. It’s just the right wing, home boy pastors that create these lies because they don’t have a real chance to defeat the same sex marriage law without lying about what it does and doesn’t do.
Every gay couple wants to be married but apparently they don’t want to contribute to the pro-Question 6 campaign. I haven’t seen ONE SINGLE pro-6 ad. Not one. Did Equality Maryland pocket the funds?
Maybe we shouldn't have redefined marriage to allow interracial marriage?