Well, this is refreshing! Kudos to SCI FI.
On Saturday, Nov. 24, during one of the biggest premiere events of the year for the channel - the two-hour extended episode of Battlestar Galactica: Razor - the network will unveil a new public service announcement (PSA) from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).
Battlestar Galactica star Jamie Bamber (Lee “Apollo” Adama) appears in the 20-second "Be an Ally & a Friend" spot, along with Jerry O’Connell (Carpoolers, Sliders), Jason Lewis (Brothers & Sisters) and Eric Mabius (Ugly Betty).
The PSA will air immediately following the episode.
"It is wonderful to see straight allies join in GLAAD’s quest towards equal and fair treatment of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community," says GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "We are grateful to SCI FI Channel for inviting us to be part of this television event and to be able to reach their audience with this important message."
Also from the press release:
GLAAD’s "Be an Ally & a Friend" PSA campaign features 22 public figures from television, film and sports. The spots encourage viewers to be allies to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and to help combat homophobia, directing viewers to resources at <http://glaad.org/>glaad.org. New 20- and 30-second versions of the PSA are being released through broadcast collaborations with Access Hollywood, national cable networks such as Fox Reality, GSN, IFC, Lifetime, The N, SCI FI Channel and Sundance Channel; local cable systems and network affiliates; online at LiveVideo, YouTube, AOL Video and MySpace; and others to be announced.
The rhetoric of hate directed at the gay community seems to be on the rise. Per the Daily Telegraph, just last week: Ken Hutcherson - a former Dallas Cowboys linebacker and head of the virulently anti-gay Antioch Bible Church in Redmond, Washington (home of Microsoft) - invaded a Microsoft shareholders meeting. He told Microsoft executives at the meeting that he would be their "worst nightmare" if they ignored his demands.
Hutcherson’s remarks, per The Daily Telegraph.
There are 256 Fortune 500 companies alone pouring millions upon millions of dollars into pushing the homosexual agenda. I consider myself a warrior for Christ. Microsoft don’t scare me. I got God with me.
I told them that you need to work with me or we will put a firestorm on you like you have never seen in you life because I am your worst nightmare. I am a black man with a righteous cause with a whole host of powerful white people behind me.
Clearly, Mr. Hutcherson does not have SCI FI and other cable networks on his side, and kudos to SCI FI (and cable) for their role in promoting tolerance and true diversity.
Battlestar: Razor promo:
