Hot on the heels of Massachusetts judge Joseph Tauro declaring part of the Defense of Marriage Act as ‘unconstitutional,’ NBC’s Today show has dropped their own bombshell. In a brave move they made the decision to open their annual wedding contest to same sex couples. The contest has been running for 11 years and asks viewers to decide on who will get their dream wedding at Rockefeller Center, what they will wear and the location of their honeymoon.
NBC claims that the reason the contest had only been open to heterosexual couples in the past was due to the fact that New York state does not recognize same sex marriage. It was only when representatives from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) pointed out that New York does however recognize marriage licenses that were sought out in other states, that NBC reevaluated their stance on the matter.
In a statement posted on their website the Today show stated that it had not been their intention to discriminate against anybody and that now the contest would be open to all couples regardless. The decision has opened up a wave of emotion amongst viewers of the show with people posting comments on the website both in support and against the move. Many people seemed to be delighted with the decision whereas others are standing firm in the belief that marriage should be between just a man and a woman. NBC may find themselves at the receiving end of further upset if a same sex couple were picked as finalists for the wedding contest. Only time will tell whether this brave choice will have an adverse effect on the viewing figures of the show.
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