A group co-founded by Florida natives is behind a controversial billboard in Cleveland that shows Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaning in for a kiss with Sen. Ted Cruz.
Aaron Jackson co-founded the organization Planting Peace, which paid for the billboard placed in Cleveland ahead of the Republican National Convention next week, the Northwest Florida Daily News reported. The billboard is approximately five minutes away from Quicken Loans Arena.
Jackson said his global nonprofit organization is "calling for action that brings full, fundamental rights to the LGBT community, and a narrative that empowers LGBT people to live and love freely."
In a statement to the Daily News, he said: "What Donald, Ted and the Republican platform either fail to realize, or realize and just don't seem to care about, is that their words and actions toward our LGBT family -- especially LGBT children -- have meaning and impact. LGBT children hear these messages, telling them they are nothing but second class citizens, and are left feeling somehow broken or 'less than.'"
David Hamet, director of operations for the organization, said that the group is calling for "immediate change in the Republican Party platform with regard to our LGBT family and LGBT rights."
"Never again shall a negative, hateful message be uttered in the name of 'religious freedom.' Our message to our LGBT family remains consistent: You are loved, valued and beautiful," he told the Daily News.
Meanwhile, former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow was allegedly set to attend the convention, but backed out as Trump was set to reveal Mike Pence as his running mate -- a decision that was delayed because of the recent tragedy in Nice, France.
Read more at the Northwest Florida Daily News.
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