No Gay Couples Make It To 'Today' Wedding Contest

The "Today" show decided last month to allow gay couples to apply to participate in its annual wedding contest. But now, the NBC program has revealed the four couples who will compete in the contest — and there are no same-sex couples in the group.

There was public pressure on NBC from gay rights groups earlier in the summer to change the rules for the contest. Previously, same sex couples had been excluded from participating because of the restrictions on gay marriage in New York. After meeting with gay rights group GLAAD in July, though, NBC announced that it would be changing its rules, since New York's marriage laws recognize gay marriages performed in other states.

However, the finalists were revealed Monday, and no gay couples made it through.

See the four couples who will be competing below:

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Comments

[Political Avatar]

04:07 PM on 08/25/2010

I think people are forgetting the history of race/gender relations in the US.
There is a reason we have affirmative action and equal rights for women now.

Women still hit the 'glass ceiling' all the time, and African Americans, Asians and Hispanics still know what its like to be the 'token' minority at a company.

So when a major broadcast company announces new rules regarding same sex couples, yet none of those couples make it to the finals, that tends to set alarms off in the heads of people who have had a history of being discriminated against.

It could be the other couples just did not qualify.
Or maybe someone subconsciously just chose straight couples.
Or maybe someone thought it would be good PR but never intended to have gays on.

Personally, I find the whole thing a bit suspicious in the first place, because somehow every year they only have ONE minority couple on every year. I am not saying they have to pick more minority couples, it just rubs me the wrong way that its 3 Caucasian couples and one minority and/or mixed couple.
That really smacks of tokenism to me.

I'm waiting for the day when they have 3 mixed and/or gay couples and one white heterosexual 'token' couple. But I think I will be waiting a long time.

[tttony]

02:12 PM on 08/25/2010

Having a token gay couple would not serve the GLBT community any better than it serves the black community on civil rights issues.

[pecosdog]

01:02 PM on 08/25/2010

I mis-aligned the photos with the stories. For a minute there I though Glenn Beck and Rick Sanchez had gotten married and were mad they weren't invited on the Today show. They do make a cute couple, don't you think?

[Bob Flavell]

10:17 AM on 08/25/2010

Three white couples, one black, all hetero. Carefully-crafted to meet the demographic. Today is a goldmine for NBC - why would they risk outrage from the hinterlands?

[scottowego]

10:25 PM on 08/24/2010

Would be nice to have a follow up on the couples that do make it on the show and see how many of them are still married. Just curious.

[NickTAZ]

04:16 PM on 08/24/2010

There probably aren't any Islamic couples either. Big companies don't like wading into issues that could cost them money and garner them bad press (not surprisingly). My guess (without looking) would be a couple white couples, one good looking and one un-attractive, and them maybe some Christian minorities thrown in for good measure.

[sheaintsayin]

03:21 PM on 08/24/2010

Good grief; when are people going to get over the idea of marriage and weddings and the entire spectacle of these expensive, egotistical insufferable events? We have got to find our way to private, civil unions for all...after a series of courses on the laws of incorporation, contract, property, community, birthing babies, and dissolution of contracts.

[Samantha Monteleone]

01:47 PM on 08/24/2010

At least gay couples were allowed to submit entries. Just because they weren't chosen as finalists could possibly have nothing to do with their sexual orientation. Do they have to make it such a big deal? I'm sure the show had plenty of entries to choose from.

[TriniDva]

11:05 AM on 08/24/2010

The "Today Wedding Show" would have become political, rather than a beautiful moment. Many people are not even comfortable with Movies, TV Shows, or even scenes with a gay element, far less a Wedding Show for a Gay Couple. How about you walk before you run?

[zest]

10:50 AM on 08/24/2010

Another nail in the coffin of the sanctity of marriage.

[elizlucinda]

10:07 AM on 08/24/2010

I think the Today show should announce no white heterosexual couples will be allowed to apply for the Wedding Show.

[yankees]

10:05 AM on 08/24/2010

With only 4 slots open, I doubt they would include every faith, race, etc. So should the Mormons or the Indians make a big deal if they are not elected. Enough already!

[PC0207]

08:15 AM on 08/24/2010

And???

[ProperGanda]

07:40 AM on 08/24/2010

Do you think if there was a gay couple that people would be happy? No
The couple would have to be an interracial homosexual couple who doesn't act effeminate (or manly, if we are referring to women) and are perfect in every way, in order to please everybody.
see this article http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bil-browning/cnns-gay-in-america-stere_b_621633.html

[TXFIRE]

06:19 AM on 08/24/2010

Wahh... Cry me a river, you didn't make it on the show... grow up already! Just because gays are not the majority of the people in this country does not give the right to better placement or preferential treatment... They let you apply and you didn't make the cut - be happy you were able to apply. Take a good look at your = signs and realize there just may have been better non-gay applicants... I am getting sick of everyone whining, including many gays because your demand for attention is starting to really annoy many people. But we are afraid to tell you to shut up because of the fear of retaliation. Didn't anyone teach that life is not fair? It is really quite sad that everything from tv shows to employers are having to start taking people sex and race into account out of fear of retaliation instead of being able to focus on the persons qualities and what they bring to the table gay or not. - In short it is not the gay peoples show and it is not the straight peoples show... lt is the producers show - so let have the freedom to express what they want. And for the record I have had gay friends and I treat them = with anyone else I have known.

[elizlucinda]

10:05 AM on 08/24/2010

Wow: I am always suspicious of anyone who ends their blog with the words:

"and for the record I have had gay friends and I treat them = with anyone else I have known.

[TXFIRE]

12:13 PM on 08/24/2010

LOL I would not have to add disclaimers if people were not so "sensitive" about the issues... I guess maybe you are proving my point... The problem lies in the fact that many gays are so hardcore about being on the defensive or offensive that they forget to just act like a normal person.... Most of them do not realize that as a majority society already accepts them - Some in society may not agree but the majority accepts gays, same as mexicans, blacks etc... do I think it is always easy on those groups? NO... BUT many minority groups are asking for more then even I receive as a "white apparently privileged" person... The funny thing is... if I wanted to whine I could... about how its so bad that one of my very well qualified friends did not get a fire job in Cali... He was pulled aside by a proctor and told it was not because of his great scores but it was because he was a "majority/white" and they were filling slots with women and people of color... Seriously would you rather have the "best" in a job or tv show OR just pull a 2nd best just because it is a minority group? One more disclaimer... Do I have a right to talk about minority groups? Why not - I am happily interracially married and have a gay aunt...

[TriniDva]

10:48 AM on 08/24/2010

Thank you.
I am not certain why a gay couple was not selected, but it definately would have taken away from the Wedding Show. Instead of the focus being on the couple and their marriage, many would have boycotted the show. Definately not the time &/or place for such a controversial and unresolved matter.

[SneathLane]

10:59 AM on 08/24/2010

Yes indeed, gay people should stay quietly in the background and accept society's refusal to allow them full citizenship until after all of the people with irrational prejudices die. They certainly shouldn't try to change people's minds! That is taking away people's freedom to believe wrong things without challenge.

[John Stopple]

04:36 PM on 08/25/2010

Can we just boycott the wedding show? "Today" as reality dreck is kinda annoying.