Networks reject second UCC ad

Less than a year after producing a gay-inclusive television ad rejected by the major television networks, the United Church of Christ is at it again, with a second ad deemed inappropriate to air by broadcast officials.

The new advertisement is set to be shot in Vancouver next week, and while UCC officials are not yet disclosing the ad's content, the TV spot's theme is said to be similar to last year's ad, which showed bouncers not allowing various people of color from entering into a church. The commercial ended with a message from UCC that it welcomes all comers to its churches, and showed a lesbian couple embracing. The new commercial will also include images of a gay couple, this time being rejected due to their sexuality. <snip>

While the ads are merely meant to alert LGBT people that they will not be ostracized from UCC – and do not directly touch upon such controversial topics as same-sex marriage or gay clergy members – the three major networks see the ads differently. In meetings with him last month, Buford said network officials deemed the new commercial as an advocacy ad and declined to air it.

The networks used a similar stand last year in rejecting the first ad, though CBS officials went even further, citing President Bush's position against gay marriage as one of their reasons for not airing the spot. In a statement to UCC, the network said "Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations, and the fact the executive branch has recently proposed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the networks." <snip>

http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=222

"Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other minority groups by other individuals and organizations, and the fact the executive branch has recently proposed a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman, this spot is unacceptable for broadcast on the networks."

They allow networks to air Will and Grace and various shows with gay/lesbian characters, yet won't let an ad run because Der Fuhrer is a homophobe? Has logic completely left the building???

no matter where it comes from the left or the right. To bad it didn't stick with my psycho sister.