Group urges boycott of Famous Players

Canadian Catholic News
Toronto

The CCRL is joining a boycott started by the Canadian Family Action Coalition (CFAC), one of its partners in Defending Marriage Canada, which also includes Campaign Life, and Real Women of Canada.

"It appears that this advertisement was placed by a same-sex advocacy group through the intervention of the president of Famous Players Media." said CCRL President Phil Horgan in a telephone interview.

"It is unfortunate that this corporation sees fit to impose its views on this controversial issue to a captive audience waiting to see a movie for which they paid their admission fee."

"If this corporation seeks to impose its views on its paying audience, Canadians should respond by watching their movies at other movie houses where they will not be subjected to this one-sided approach," he said.

"I'm a great supporter of gay and lesbian and minority rights." - Salah Bachir

A spokeswoman for Famous Players Theatres told the Toronto Star Feb. 8 that Salah Bachir, president of Famous Players Media, a separate company, donated the ad to Canadians for Equal Marriage, a same-sex marriage advocacy group.

Bachir told the Toronto Star that he had bought the ad as a private citizen.

"I would advertise it anywhere, on screens, in newspapers or anywhere.

"It's something that I'm very proud of doing.

"I'm a great supporter of gay and lesbian and minority rights."

Horgan says it's "curious" that the president donated money for the ad. "It is akin to the CEO of a bank putting a pro-gay message on its bank books," he said.

"If they are prepared to provide this type of advertisement, I would ask that they put one up that asserts that every child needs a mom and a dad, so that the message that marriage is a child-centred institution could be made available," Horgan said.

The ad, a 10-second still slide, urges moviegoers to write their MPs in support of same-sex marriage.

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