Gay and lesbian couples are noticeably
missing from ads running in four states with gay marriage
referendums, and mainstream media outlets are taking a closer look.
Voters in two states, Maryland and
Washington state, will decide to either uphold or repeal gay marriage
laws approved by lawmakers. Proponents in Maine put the issue up to
a popular vote three years after they lost the right at the ballot
box. And Minnesota voters will be asked whether to amend their state
constitution to define marriage as a heterosexual union.
Most of the ads feature allies speaking
up for gay couples, not gay men or lesbians.
“Our ads are meant to make sure that
the people who are to decide this race on election day. These ads
are meant to reflect who they are and to help them connect with
people just like them,” Richard Carlbom of Minnesota United for All
Families told the AP.
Alexander Zachary of Minneapolis said
he got the feeling that the campaigns believe voters do not want to
see gay people on television.
“In my head, the only thing I can
think of is that they hired a political strategist and they said,
'Straight people don't want to see gay people on TV,'” he said.
“And that's the direction that they chose to go.”