The "Born Different" ad campaign-- with its mooing spokesdog, Norman-- was created to persuade Colorado voters to say yes to domestic partner benefits for gay couples. The campaign tries to cleverly point out that not all dogs bark, and not all people are heterosexual.
Kind of a weird message. Predictably, Focus on the Family takes it to a whole new level of crazy by responding with Sherman, an anti-gay pooch who definitely only barks (see above)... and opposes same-sex partnerships.
First they point out that the famous gay penguins have since repented and are now living a properly hetero life. Then they say that "we can't base our behavior on what animals do." So that means humans can't "leave the lifestyle" either? I'm so confused.
Why can't either side show images of actual gay humans when discussing this issue?
Thanks to Darin for the link.
In related Focus on the Family news, check out this fascinating profile of SpongeDob.
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The whole thing is just strange. What is wrong with the idea of showing real families and how their lives are impacted by anti-GLBT laws? If I was on the fence, I would find the story of someone who couldn't visit their partner of 20 years in the ICU a lot more convincing than a mooing dog.
Once I knew a dog that said "arf."
Nerdlet... you took the words right out of my mouth. Hahaha, a nerd after my own arf.
And manda, I agree.
I love the link! The mooing dog is just too cute. :)
I do agree that it would be good to show humans, too, but - let's face it - that hasn't exactly been working too well.
I did like the interviews on the mooing dog page where they asked people, "How old were you when you choose to be straight?" They all sort of blinked and said, "Well, I think I was born that way!"
My response to Dr. Dobson:
Again, Focus on the Family proves their ignorance without a doubt. Sherman is spreading misinformation. Some dogs, indeed, do not bark. The Basenji, an African hunting dog, dosen't bark. They chortle, whine, squeal, and make a Basenji-specific noise called a yodel or a baroo. You may reference any one of thousands of web pages to verify this. In fact, most canids don't bark. Domesticated, socilized canids seem to be the most likely to do so. So, Sherman might be considered to be even more UN-natural because he DOES bark.
All in all, your new campaign, dedicated to depriving both gay AND straight citizens of their rights, is based on ignorance and misinformation.
Congrats, Dr. Dobson. You have again proved why it is that fundies just don't have the advantage.
Jennifer C. Platte
Ex-Southern Baptist and proud, kinky domestic partner (to a male, nonetheless)
And, on the contrary, now among gays is much as intellectuals with "not brushed thoughts" or aesthetes and everyones potential "enemies of the people", and the inhabitants simply dragging semibeggarly existence which do not have the slightest relation neither to cheap politics, nor to show business, to any other business, and sweeping street or standing idle in turn behind the unemployment benefit.