GLAAD’S “I DO” CONTEST ENCOURAGES ALL TO PARTICIPATE
Seeks Diverse Entries for Commercial Competition

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is proud to announce the “I DO” Contest, a national competition to create the best 30-second television commercial spot advocating equal access to the rights, protections and responsibilities of marriage for same-sex couples.

Whether you’re a novice or professional filmmaker, and identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) or straight, GLAAD is inviting you to submit your 30-second commercial spot for consideration. We welcome everyone’s participation. “If you can translate your passion for fairness and equal protection for same-sex couples into 30 compelling seconds that counter the negative, discriminatory and fear-mongering tactics of the anti-gay right wing, then we want to hear from you,” says Joan M. Garry, Executive Director of GLAAD.

Every day, Americans are subjected to misleading suggestions that granting civil marriages rights to same-sex couples will somehow destroy the sanctity of marriage. We at GLAAD believe that average, fair-minded Americans will see through these biased and homophobic messages when shown what same-sex marriage rights are truly about—equal protection under the law for all committed couples and families regardless of gender.

This is a unique and creative opportunity for you to get involved and potentially show your vision to millions of Americans. Help us put a human face on the struggles of LGBT people by sharing images of families, love and the desire for equality that everyone can relate to.

Submit your television spot from March 27 to May 11, 2004. Commercial spots can be in any form of moving image—live-action, animation, text, whatever else you prefer--as long as the final submitted commercial spot is of broadcast quality. Be creative. The commercials should show a positive and/or poignant attitude towards same-sex marriage. Anyone 15 years old and over who is a U.S. citizen or resident alien living in the U.S. can submit a commercial spot. Commercial spots can be in English or Spanish language.

The winning commercial spot—to be announced on June 5, 2004 at the GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco—will be chosen from a group of finalists by our panel of celebrity judges, including writer/director Kevin Williamson (Scream), producer Craig Zadan (Chicago), director Jane Anderson (If These Walls Could Talk 2), actor Judith Light (Who’s the Boss?), director Paris Barclay (The West Wing, ER), actor/writer Heather Juergensen (Kissing Jessica Stein) and producer Bruce Cohen (American Beauty). More celebrity judges will be announced in the coming weeks.

GLAAD plans to air the winning spot in several key markets across the country as part of an intensive media campaign to combat the anti-gay rhetoric of our opposition. The winning ad will also be shown on Spanish-language television. Certain commercial spots may be shown online at GLAAD’s website

Create a difference in 30 seconds! Submit your commercial spot to the “I DO” Contest.

For more information on how to enter, please go to www.GLAAD.org/ido

GLAAD is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.