Despite right wing play, gay-friendly PSAs to air at Super Bowl

The right-wing Mission America’s attempt to block the broadcast of four pro-gay “That’s so gay” PSAs at the Super Bowl has failed.

The anti-gay “media ministry” led by Linda Harvey had sought to persuade Toronto-based Grazie Media to withdraw its in-kind donation of broadcast time at the big event at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Harvey said the PSAs seek “to instill the false idea that only by enthusiastically approving of homosexuality and gender confusion can we prevent bullying” in an online statement headlined “GLSEN Goes to Super Bowl to Spread Deviance.”

Insults are bad, but respect for homosexuality is a mistake, Harvey added, urging supporters to complain to Grazie.

But Grazie held firm on its offer, pledging to run the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network/The Ad Council “Think Before You Speak” public service announcements on game day – today.

The PSAs will be broadcast on a video billboard outside the stadium, near the entrance. 

“GLSEN is thrilled to share the ‘Think Before You Speak’ campaign’s message of respect with tens of thousands of football fans attending the Super Bowl this year,” said executive director Eliza Byard. “The PSA campaign featuring Hilary Duff, Wanda Sykes and the NBA’s Grant Hill has already reached millions of Americans across the country and we are truly grateful for this opportunity to increase awareness among a new kind of audience about the negative impact of anti-gay slurs.”

“At one of the biggest sport stages around the world, the Super Bowl is a massive outlet to send a message,” said Grazie events programming director Vanessa Wojtala. “Our organization feels that GLSEN’s presence at the Super Bowl is a wonderful way to raise awareness about the Think Before You Speak campaign.”

“Think Before You Speak” features humorous TV PSAs with celebrities interrupting teenagers who use the term “that’s so gay.”

See the four PSAs at 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&list=PLAED3C28BABF4E505&v=8D_XLCmY0D8.