What do Mormons and homosexuals have in common?
Both communities face widespread stereotypes, and are justifiably concerned with public relations.
Last year, I wrote a post on the gay rights movement where I suggested that gay rights activists should focus less on shocking the public and more on emphasizing the positive things people in the gay community were doing. I proposed that instead of spreading curse-laden viral videos, they should run profiles of average gay Americans.
“You want to make a campaign centered on viral online videos? Here’s an idea. Make a series of video profiles of gay people who have done or are doing cool stuff. These don’t have to be celebrities or earth shatteringly impressive people. Just normal, admirable, everyday people. You don’t even have to mention that they’re gay until the end of the video; just make a nice profile and then have the person look at the camera and say, “I’m gay. And I would like my rights please.”
So far, gay rights activists haven’t taken my advice.
But Mormons have.
A new ad campaign focuses on the people that make up the little-understood religious community.
It’s an effective campaign. And with two presidential candidates (assuming you still count Jon Huntsman) who are Mormon, it’s perfectly timed.
photo credit: mckaycoppins.com