Rocky signs national ad backing gay marriages

NEW YORK (AP) — Three major gay-rights groups started taking out full-page advertisements this week in 50 newspapers nationwide declaring their determination to keep fighting for same-sex marriage rights despite recent court setbacks.

The media campaign will cost $250,000; its organizers said it was the largest-ever purchase of print-advertising space by gay-rights supporters.

Roberta Sklar of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force said the ads would run in papers around the country, from The New York Times to The Gazette of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to gay weeklies in Houston, Atlanta and San Diego.

The ads feature photographs of five same-sex couples who have been together as long as 53 years and are endorsed by an array of organizations and individuals, including 11 religious leaders and nine mayors.

Salt Lake Mayor Rocky Anderson was among those who signed the ad.

Signatories of the ads also included the mayors of Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Providence, R.I., Portland, Ore., West Sacramento, Calif., and Palm Springs, Calif.

GLAAD's executive director, Neil Giuliano, said the ad campaign was a milestone because of the strong support from straight political and religious leaders.