TV networks reject ad from church Say spot welcoming gays is controversial

[RamboLiberal]

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/03/28/MNGL4HUVV31.DTL

The nation's major television networks have rejected an ad that shows a gay couple and others being banished from a church, saying it violates their rules against controversial or religious advertising.

The 30-second commercial for the United Church of Christ will begin airing on cable networks and Spanish-language stations next week. The ad, called "Ejector," shows a gay couple, a single mother, a disabled man and others flying out of their pews as a wrinkled hand pushes a red button.

Text on the screen reads, "God doesn't reject people. Neither do we," and a voiceover says, "The United Church of Christ. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome here."

The church tried to run a similar ad in December 2004 in which bouncers outside a church stopped gay couples, racial minorities and others from entering. The networks also rejected that ad.

[rpannier]

1. An excellent example of true anti-Christian bias on the part of the media

n/t

[AuntiBush]

12. It Sure Is.

Isn't it ABC/CBC that won't air this? Shame on them.

The UCC is going to receive a donation from this kid. Thanks for posting this - its a great reminder.

Edited to add: From the above linked story (what a crock of $hit!)

"The decision by CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox to decline the latest advertisement shows the networks have a narrow view of acceptable images of gays and lesbians, church leader Ron Buford said Monday.

"They are saying, 'You can entertain on 'Will & Grace' and 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,' but when it comes to showing you as whole people with the church, that is going to far," Buford said.

CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs said the network has "a long-standing and well-documented policy of not accepting advocacy advertising."

[Maat]

15. I donate to the also ..

even though I'm a Religious Scientist (mystical universalist who honors all paths)(we also are a welcoming and affirming church).

I'm sending them a donation now! Good for you AuntiBush!

[keith the dem]

23. Thanks for your support

As a member of a UCC church in a major city, we need the help. Our church is a few blocks away from the place where our constitution was written (and was there at that time.) It hurts to see that document discarded, we now see the death of both freedom of religion and freedom of speech.

[Maat]

36. Yes, we have to support those fighting for equal treatment for

all!

[Critters2]

42. Are you at Old First Reformed?

I went to seminary with someone from there. Seems like a great church.

I pastor an ONA church, too! A lifelong UCC, and proud of it--especially at times like this!!

[keith the dem]

46. Yes!

I guess I gave a few too many clues, but I'm proud of my church.

[AuntiBush]

41. They've really stuck their necks out on the line

for all of us. The ones I've met locally are average, normal good people of all ages. Many are middle to older in age and are sincerely good-hearted, peaceful-minded people.

They are not weirdos, of off the wall. And, I admire them greatly for what they're trying to do and that is to counter those whom are not speaking for the prince of peace.

[fishwax]

13. that's part of why it's so hard for liberal christians to retake their

religion.

[uppityperson]

2. Go UCC. Bah to rejecting ads about tolerance.

[LeftHander]

29. Not tolerance...but welcoming, accepting and embracing...

We need to move beyond simply tolerating people different from ourselves and genuinely embrace and welcome them with love.

"Tolerance" to me is a conservative method akin to cold ignoring.

Apathy.

[Maat]

37. Yes, LeftHander, I try to incorporate 'welcoming, affirming ..

and embracing' into my speech also! Very important!

[IndianaGreen]

3. So ads that advocate bigotry are okay

but ads that advocate inclusiveness are not okay.

Jesus would have never been allowed on TV!

[BR_Parkway]

4. So how do we let their advertisers know what they'll miss?

What is the Gay Market?
Gays and lesbians are sometimes elusive to quantify, but major advertisers have increasingly found that their efforts are well worth the investment to find them and for good reason. A recent study conducted by the Connecticut-based Greenfield Online, found that the average annual household income for gays and lesbians is $57,000. The New York-based Company, Spare Parts, Inc., which helps companies market to gays, estimates that the United States gay and lesbian population is between 15 million to 23 million. According to another study (Inter@ctive Week, August 30, 1999. Pg. 20.), the US gay community consists of over 19 million people with an estimated buying power of $800 billion. Worldwide, these figures are much larger.

Below is a benchmark that helps to bring this market more into focus, allowing us to compare it to other diversity niche communities in the US marketplace.

Market Population Buying Power Buying Power
Per Capita
African American 30 Million $535 Billion $17.8K
Gay American 16.5 Million $450 Billion $27.3K
Hispanic American 31 Million $383 Billion $12.4K
Asian American 11 Million $229 Billion $21.0K

http://www.gaymarketexpress.com/

[AX10]

5. Then the major netorks are ENDORSING BIGOTRY.

[Megahurtz]

6. They're owned by the Repukes. n/t

[CatholicEdHead]

7. Yes and they often choose idology over profit

Progressive radio stations (AA/Ed Schultz) are running into this (e.g. Phoenix).

[Warren Stupidity]

8. Hey acceptance and tolerance - what does that have to do with Jesus? nt

[BattyDem]

9. "acceptance and tolerance" are controversial ...

but I guess the Swift Boat ads weren't. :eyes:

[sui generis]

24. nailed it in one

acceptance and tolerance are controversial -

doesn't matter - it's probably reached more people via "viral video" on the internet than some obscure spot on broadcast television could ever hope for.

Major networks just got sucker punched using their own fist.

[NoodleyAppendage]

10. The 12/2004 ad ran on NC stations for awhile...

I thought the 2004 ads, which apparently are very similar, were very tame. But, I guess in Christofascist-land any mention of their hypocracy and RACISM is verboten. Fuckin' nazis...

J

[Buns_of_Fire]

27. It also ran in SW Virginia/NE Tennessee for a while

And the world is still turning, the sun still rises in the east, and there seem to be no more dogs and cats living together than usual. But it DID have one consequence -- it led me towards the UCC.

CBS is fulla crap. Isn't ALL advertising "advocacy" advertising, when you come right down to it?

[leQ]

39. it also ran in northern iowa for a while. i had no idea

there was such a commotion about it til now.

[Critters2]

43. Where are you in Iowa?

I used to pastor a UCC church in Eagle Grove. I have many good friends in the UCC in northern Iowa (which I miss terribly).

[C_U_L8R]

11. put them online

and they'll spread farther wider faster
than any paid media buy

[Critters2]

44. They are online

Go to stillspeaking.com

[WestSeattle2]

14. Well I can certainly see

why welcoming people to their church is controversial......./sarcasm

[progressoid]

16. WTF? What ban on religious advertising?

We bombarded with bible beating ads all the time.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. And our kids aren't spared either...

If they are going to refuse to air this message, I want the damn "Kids Praise" commercials banned too! :grr:

[Vogon_Glory]

18. Corporate Media Shows Its Corporate Gutlessness

The corporate media shows its corporate gutlessness. The so-called "Christian" networks don't hesitate to lambaste churches that welcome gays (Witness the attacks on the Metropolitan Community Churches over the years), but the quivering mounds of jello (tm) in the corporate suites don't have the fortitude to broadcast a relatively innocuous ad.

[saigon68]

31. That's because Evil Obese Pig Falwell might get angry

[LostinVA]

19. I don't like homosexuals and their sexually deviant ways

Hahahhahahahhaha!!!

Seriously, it's sickening they won't air this ad. So... a message of love and tolerance isn't appropriate? Hmmm... I've had a lot of comparative theology.... I studied Koine Greek.... I taught CCD for quite a few years..... isn't that the MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS!?

[kevinbgoode]

20. While ABC rejects the ad. . .

they devote part of both World News Tonight and Nightline to coverage of the "christians are persecuted" conference - where evangelicals bash the gays and rail against abortion and the "liberals" . . .and then do a feature on how to access a prayerline using your cellphone.

[AnneD]

21. Say what????

well, I guess Jesus Christ would/should NEVER get airtime. If that isn't the most lame assed excuse I have ever heard. I guess I should be thankful the networks have my best interests at heart and are protecting me from such undesirable thoughts:sarcasm:

[stepnw1f]

22. Time to Regulate the Media

They owe America BIGTIME!

[TechBear_Seattle]

25. Link to the commercial; watch it for yourself

http://www.stillspeaking.com/resources/indexvis.html

This takes you to the denomination's media page. Select the options under Watch 'Ejector' commercial for the English version, Mire el anuncio del 'Eyector' for the Spanish.

Added I particularly like the nicely dressed, white Republican looking couple and their daughter who get annoyed at the crying baby, look askance at the male couple and slide away from the woman who looks like she lives on the streets. The message seems to be, "We as a denomination don't discriminate, but certain people from a specific demographic certainly do; we won't follow where they go." That message, I can see would be too in-your-face for the MSM :rofl:

[Politicub]

26. Why not air this?

I don't get what's so controversial about it. They'll gladly take political ads that show gay marriage as the eqivalent of marrying your toaster, but they won't take a church's ad.

There's something evil about the networks position, but I just can't figure out why.

[NewJeffCT]

28. yet ads for Viagra, Cialis and the wonderbra are ok?

things that make you go hmmm..

[saigon68]

30. So are ads for Anal Fistula Cream

They can take some of that stuff and put it up their Diseased Collective Rectums

[maxsolomon]

32. try to put on an ad questioning advertising

adbuster's 'buy nothing day' spots have to sue to get on the air.

ultimately, TV will not allow speech that questions its existence.

[ishtar66]

47. Who watches T.V.???

Really! The Internet is where it is at. If I want entertainment I can rent DVDs. Don't watch T.V. not even PBS anymore, except for Frontline specials.

[noonwitch]

33. Like last time, NBC and CBS will still air it.

ABC wimps out again.

[Heywood J]

38. Did ABC ever have integrity

or is this a norm for them?

[cboy4]

34. Everyone knows the gays do nothing but have sex in church

before going outside after services and try to convert as many children into homosexuality as possible.

I absolutely support the ban on these ads, pah-raise Jesus. :sarcasm: :banghead:

[politick]

35. Too bad

That sounds like one of the nicest ads we'll (never) see on TV. A good message. A message of peace. But we all know peace is controversial.

[AndyA]

40. The networks are so hypocritical!

They will make tons of money by airing shows like "Will and Grace," "Desperate Housewives," and "Ellen" which feature gay characters, but they won't air ads from a church that have a gay theme? What's the difference? This is censorship. We need to file complaints with the FCC! How outrageous.

[satya]

45. Wow, there really IS a "War on Christianity"!

edited -- wrong smilie.

[Kat45]

48. The UCC also has a campaign to write to ABC to urge them to

invite mainstream Christians onto their news/talk shows, instead of the Falwell/Robertson/RWers that they always invite on. This page has info on the UCC media campaign, as well as a video of the ad.

http://accessibleairwaves.org/

I am a member of a UCC church and I get involved in these campaigns as soon as I hear about them. I've never met so many nice people in one place as I have at my church. This church walks the walk more than they talk the talk--quite the opposite of the "Christian" groups that get all the publicity. Unfortunately, the UCC doesn't have anywhere near the money the fundie churches do. My own little congregation is financially struggling to survive; we may have to merge with another UCC church to carry on. And yet these big fundie mega-churches prosper. Something is wrong with that picture.

Edited to add: Notice that the UCC bought an ad on DU. How cool is that! It's the top ad on the right-hand side of the Lobby page.

[donco6]

49. There's that WAR ON CHRISTIANS again.

Doggone librul media!