TV networks reject ad from church-AGAIN!

[davidinalameda]

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.

[Lerkfish]

1. this is what happens when progressive christians try to do the right thing

an people here keep saying "why oh why aren't left christians speaking up?"

this is why.

[WillParkinson]

2. So let me get this (no pun) straight...

It's OK for the networks to have religious programming on, even those that denigrate gays and lesbians, but it's not OK to have a commercial about a church that is all-inclusive, according to their claims?

OK. I think that makes perfect sense.

Somewhere.

Maybe.

[swimmernsecretsea]

4. A few more items in the rulebook...

• Portray sex as a commodity, useful for selling and enticing viewers, but then go and pretend it's bad. Then freely show violence and disregard for human life, because that's waaay more entertaining, and educational too.


• If you have to show gays and lesbians, make sure they're maladjusted stereotypes who either don't have any relationships, or trapeze from sexual fling to sexual fling.


• LGBT people are so useful as a plot device in shows like CSI: Las Vegas or Law and Order as either the deserving victim (based upon their promiscuity) or the psychopathic pervert who kills because he/she can't have someone who is straight.

So much easier than showing something as simple as a religious institution that doesn't reject anyone and tries to include people in its message of acceptance and love, huh? Anyone care to add on?

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. "Ban on religious advertising", eh? Do they really expect us to buy that?

I see other churches advertise on television, I see revivals advertised, I see religious programs advertised, I see religious programs broadcast.

Crimeny, they can't even take the time to tell decent lies anymore :cry:

[kevinbgoode]

5. Of course, if they were evangelicals . . .

they would receive time on the news programming to PR their cause. . .and exposure to the commercial for free.

[BR_Parkway]

8. Wonder if we could be organized enough to push this story to that

"internet reporter on CNN" If all the gay oriented and liberal blogs were to post about it and email her about it.

Not sure how to organize it.

[NMMNG]

6. Rules against religious advertising?

I've seen ads for those "Worship Jamz" CDs ad naseum. And don't even try to tell me that the content of some of their news broadcasts (which they promote in advertisements) is not controversial.

Lousy hypocrites.

[pro_blue_guy]

7. But in red Ohio (okay, the more blue part of the state).....

Oddly enough, I have seen this commercial numerous times since last summer on the network affiliate stations from Cleveland and Toledo (ABC, CBS, etc); I believe we were the test market of this commerical since the UCC is based in Cleveland. When I went home for spring break two weeks ago, I saw the commerical twice!



God bless the UCC!

[sui generis]

9. well their loss in the end

that ad would have run in a lousy slot anyway, so it's lined up and aimed better on paid access stations.

And hey, it's free advertising courtesy of major broadcast networks.

[swimmernsecretsea]

10. I found a link to the video & statement from the United Church of Christ

This link includes both the new "Ejector" ad, and the "Bouncer" ad, in a variety of formats and download options, including Windows Media Player, Quicktime, and radio commerical versions. The "bouncer" ad from The United Church of Christ won the year’s most outstanding electronic advertisement by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), June 11, 2005 at the 16th annual GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco.

Link to the commercials online:
http://www.stillspeaking.com/resources/indexvis.html

Link to the statement from the United Church of Christ regarding the network's refusal to air the commercial:
http://www.glaad.org/media/release_detail.php?id=3760

Please note: the statement includes a call to action to contact the networks protesting their decision to not air the commercial, and provides contact information for CBS & NBC.

[xchrom]

11. ok -- they can give falwell all the time he wants

and they can't air a paid for commercial?

evrery time a question that borders christian concerns they ask falwell to get on and open his foul clap trap as though he speaks for christians -- but this commercial -- no.