Counteraction Alert - the AFA vs. the AAA

Yes, dear friends, it's yet another Daisies and Shit Counteraction Alert. This time the American Family Association has asked us to call the American Automobile Association, more commonly known as the "Triple A", and urge them to "reverse their policy recognizing homosexual couples as if they were 'married' for purposes of AAA Family Memberships." The email references this article written by Equality Florida which offers the following quote by President and Chief Executive Officer of AAA Auto Club South, Tom O’Brien: “Our policy does include gay and lesbian spouses, wherever they were married. Whether in other states or countries, they qualify." The article further states that "Same-sex couples applying for a membership need only state that they are married to receive the family benefit. Management also left the door open to expand the policy to include domestic partners - gay and straight."

The AFA's panties are in a twist because "Thirty states have overwhelmingly voted to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. Yet AAA is treating homosexual couples as if they are married.
The homosexual couples need only state that they are married to receive the family benefit. In the eyes of AAA two homosexuals living together constitute 'marriage' and make a 'family.' All they have to do to get the 'family membership' benefits is to say 'we are gay and married.'"

Their obsessive use of "scare quotes" amuses me. But I digress...

AAA South executives have been pointing out to those protesting the same-sex inclusion policy that proof of marriage isn't required for opposite-sex couples either, so no preferential treatment is being shown.

Curious to see if the same-sex inclusion policy extends beyond AAA South I checked the AAA Colorado site where the policy regarding family memberships reads "Associate members may be a spouse or one other resident adult..." which leaves the definition of marriage out of the issue all together. The AAA South policy does not contain the "or one other resident adult" language which is all that was apparently behind the initial refusal by agents to accept same-sex partners as associate members.

Regardless of the specifics, the American Family Association would like it very much if we all contacted the American Automobile Association and requested they reverse their same-sex inclusion policy while lecturing them on the current federal definition of marriage. They've even privided us with a nice little web form directed to the AAA that states how "deeply shocked and saddened" we are that they would extend family memberships even to families the AFA's tiny little god finds offensive.

In order to counter this ridiculous, religion fueled hissy-fit I'm asking that we also send a few emails and phone calls to the AAA thanking them for assisting same-sex couples in protecting and supporting their families in the same way they assist heterosexual families.

AAA CEO Robert Darbelnet can be contacted by mail at:

AAA
1000 AAA Dr.
Heathrow, FL 32746

by phone at: 813-289-5000

and by email at: RDarbelnet@national.aaa.com

AAA South also has a handy little comment form available online, and Equality Florida has a web form of their own thanking AAA South for the policy change.