December 16, 2021
Watch: Two Men Kissing for the Holidays? 'No, No, No!' Says One Million Moms
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
One Million Moms are angry again, this time over a holiday ad from Sephora that features two men in an embrace.
This isn't the first time this year the group – part of the American Family Association – has attacked Sephora. They did so earlier over a shaving product for women.
The AFA has been labeled a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center. "OMM, which has been active since roughly 2006, launches frequent campaigns against advertisers they don't agree with or against advertisers whose ads appear associated with television programs and movies they don't agree with," writes the SPLC.
Their goal, as stated on their website, "is to stop the exploitation of our children, especially by the entertainment media (TV, music, movies, etc.)." They claim they are a powerful tool against the "immorality, violence, vulgarity and profanity the entertainment media is throwing at your children."
While its title suggests an army of angry moms, in reality the group is likely much smaller in reality, as GLAAD points out. "The Internet ranking site Alexa (not to be confused with your in-home listening device) gives OneMillionMoms.com a�ranking of�#1,133,944�in global internet engagement. That is extremely low. For comparison's sake, GLAAD's own page has�a ranking�that is�ten times higher ranking than theirs." The group only has 4,200 Twitter followers. "�For a squad of supposedly one million? That follow rate doesn't add up," GLAAD adds.
The Sephora ad in question is a 30-second-video called "Holiday Gifting 2021: It's the Beauty You Give." Gay Times writes it "shows a heartwarming collection of scenes of individuals joyously receiving gifts. However, the Christian network found fault with the inclusive promotion as it features two men sitting together, who share a kiss, while the screen reads 'Gift love.'"
In the OMM post, the org writes: "Sephora, a company that sells cosmetics, beauty products, and fragrances, has really crossed the line by featuring two gay men in its newest commercial," noting that the men are the only ones romantically shown. "After one man is shown opening a gift from their dogs (which is obviously from his partner), the commercial concludes with the two men kissing on the lips."
They go to say Sephora's prime audience is female, but complain that their commercial ends with two men kissing. "Promoting same-sex relationships should have nothing to do with marketing makeup and skin care products. Yet Sephora wants to make it clear where it stands on this controversial topic instead of remaining neutral in the culture war."
They conclude with the "way this advertisement is pushing the LGBTQ agenda is very concerning, but what is even more concerning is that this commercial is airing when children are likely to be watching television during family viewing time."
And ask readers to sign a petition telling Sephora to pull the ad. So far it has received more than 12,000 signatures.
Watch the ad below: