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• 1988-09-20
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• 2005-03-30
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• highschool student
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• Kateri Hall

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• surviving my freshmen year of highschool without killing any fellow classmates or teachers.
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• Gundam Wing, Ranma one half, Inuyasha, Knights of the Zodiac, Full Metal Panic, Full Metal Al chemist, Ghost in the Shell, Cowboy Bebop
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myOtaku.com: kitty cat girl

Friday, June 10, 2005

This is just ridiculous!
Telemarketing Company Profiting from Anti-Gay Calls
06.09.05

By Ross von Metzke

As the battle of the culture wars continues, telemarketers are stepping into the game. In a departure from the standard telemarketing calls aimed at selling long distance service, United American Technology has taken telemarketing to a whole new level - gay bashing for dollars.
The Oklahoma-based long distance carrier, a self-described Christian conservative company, is seeking out like-minded customers by bad-mouthing larger rivals in the marketplace for their "sinful" behavior.

“Our base, which would be a conservative base, really does not like the same-sex marriage that has been pushed down our throat,” UAT consultant Carl Thompson told ABC News.

UAT niche markets its services to call recipients by rallying against Internet pornography, homosexuality and same-sex marriage and then criticizing competing phone companies it claims promote both.

Many major corporations — ranging from huge hotel chains to telecommunications firms that carry cable television and Internet services — have profited, in one form or another, from adult entertainment. Several corporations have either contributed to politicians or organizations that support gay rights, or have implemented diversity programs.

“Lots of marketers — from these people to Pepsi — are trying to create a reason to choose their commodity brand over another, and I guess the culture wars are as good a reason as any,” said Bob Garfield, advertising critic for Advertising Age magazine.

An increasing number of corporations are taking political positions that cater to a specific clientele. The San Francisco-based Working Assets Long Distance, for instance, markets itself as a liberal long distance phone company and says it has raised more than $47 million for progressive causes.

Other corporations change policies when they smell profit. Coors Brewing Company, once a major supporter of conservative causes, even went so far as to hire Mary Cheney, daughter of the vice president, to market specifically to gay and lesbian customers.

But some say UAT takes its politics too far. New York City comedian Eugene Mirman was so shocked by a UAT call, he recorded it.

“I got a phone call," Mirman said. "It was a recording and it said: 'Hi, I'm the mother of three, and I don't support gay marriage. If you don't support gay marriage press one.' I have something hooked up to my phone to record phone calls, and so I scrambled and found it … Every time they would call, I would record it because it was crazy."

In one of the exchanges obtained by ABC News, the telemarketer starts her sales pitch by asking about Mirman's stance on same-sex marriage:

UAT: OK. Eugene, did you press 1 to oppose same sex marriages?
MIRMAN: Oh, I pressed it, yes.
UAT: OK, that's great to hear. Now are you against same-sex marriages?
MIRMAN:: Well I want to destroy it, yes.
UAT: OK, that's great to hear. And Eugene -
MIRMAN: With the fist of God, we will smash them!
UAT: Exactly. Uh, Mr. Mirman, our organization is dedicated to people such as yourself who want to stop same-sex marriages and to quit doing business with companies that promote and profit from the homosexual lifestyle.
MIRMAN: Some companies profit from homosexuality?
UAT: That's correct.
MIRMAN: By selling sex favors?
UAT: No. Such as AT&T, what they do …
MIRMAN: AT&T sells sex favors?
UAT: No, no. What it is is they own the Hot Network, which is a hardcore pornography channel… They also give millions of dollars to the Gay and Lesbian Alliance group.

While gay activists across the United States are discussing options for a response, organizations including the ACLU and Lambda Legal say they are considering legal action.

© 2005 GayWired.com, All Rights Reserved

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