Television Network Defends Airing Anti-Gay Commercials

After receiving backlash for airing this anti-marriage equality ad, Foxtel defends their actions by saying they are encouraging debate.

Foxtel, an Australian television network owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, is facing a backlash from angry customers after the network aired an anti-marriage equality ad from the anti-gay group, Marriage Alliance.

  

Foxtel, which has signed a corporate campaign in support of same-sex marriage, continued to upset people after publicly defending their actions on social media sites.

“Foxtel is acutely aware that its decision to carry advertisements for the Marriage Alliance has caused hurt and distress to some of our customers. This decision was not made lightly and Foxtel has and will continue to express support for Marriage Equality.

However, as in Ireland, we believe this debate should be won by the force of the argument in favour of reform, not by refusing to engage in debate or to allow contrary opinions to be put. LGBTQI people were silenced for centuries. We do not believe that the same tactic should be used now against the opponents of Marriage Equality.”

Australian Marriage Equality made a public statement on their website in response to the ad. The group previously called the ad “scaremongering” in a previous statement, but surprisingly, they didn’t condemn the message this time around, or the network for televising it. Instead, they noted that Foxtel is one of their sponsors and said it was “their right to express their views.”  They did however, say that the negative ad was actually helping marriage equality win, and urged their supporters to step-up and take action.

“The feedback from decision-makers in Canberra is that the “Marriage Alliance” advertisement is actually helping our campaign. The ad offers nothing new and and our research indicates that when opponents of marriage equality express their views in the way they have, support for marriage equality increases.

We urge community members who are angry about the ad to turn their anger into positive action.

If you’re outraged with the Marriage Alliance’s campaign the best way to end it is to help make marriage equality happen and recruit everyone you know to help. There are actions listed on our new website www.wecandothis.org.au”

The Sydney Morning Herald notes that high-profile Australians, including AFL players Josh Bruce and Matt Spangher, actor Hugo Weaving and television news reader Chris Bath are featured in ads that support same-sex marriage. What are your thoughts? Do you think it’s ok for a network to air anti-marriage equality ads if they also air ads in support of the cause? Let us know in the comments section below.

 

 

Feature image is a screenshot from the YouTube video