Canada's largest exhibitor Famous Players has found itselfthe target of a boycott campaign over objections to a pre-show advertisement insupport of marriage rights for same-sex couples.
The Canada Family Action Coalition (CFAC), which opposes same-sex marriage, iscalling for a national boycott of Famous for having "subjected patrons to apro-gay 'marriage' ad," according to its website.
The 10-second advertisement is a still slide that states "'I do' is the samewhether you're gay or straight", and asks viewers to let their Member ofParliament know "you support Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms."
Same-sex marriage legislation is being considered by the House of Commons.Currently, eight of Canada's 13 provinces and territories have already ruledgay marriage legal.
According to CFAC, other conservative lobby groups such as Campaign LifeCoalition, the Catholic Civil Rights League and REAL Women of Canada are urgingtheir members to join the boycott.
"It is a betrayal of trust accorded to Famous Players by their viewing public,including parents who send their children to see a film," said CFAC presidentDr Charles McVety.
Causing particular ire is the fact that the ad space was paid for and donatedby an executive of Famous Players Media, the company that places ads in Famouscinemas.
Famous Players spokesperson Nuria Bronfman said the CFAC and any other groupcould seek to buy similar ad space so long as it complied with standards setfor any other advertisers and based on availability.
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