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NBC: United Church of Christ TV spot welcoming gays is "too contoversial" to air.

Ladewig

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NBC: United Church of Christ TV spot welcoming gays is "too contoversial" to air.

CNN

The CBS and NBC Networks have refused to run an ad by a liberal church promoting the acceptance of people regardless of sexual orientation because the networks believe the ad is advocacy advertising.

The 30-second spot, run by the United Church of Christ, features two muscle-bound bouncers standing outside a church, selecting people who could attend service and those who could not. Among those kept out are two males who appear to be a couple. Written text then appears saying, in part, "Jesus didn't turn people away, neither do we."

"Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples...and the fact that 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," the church quoted CBS as saying.

[snip]

"It went against our long-standing policy of not accepting ads that deal with issues public controversy," said the NBC spokeswoman.

The commercial can be viewed at www.stillspeaking.com


A church that welcomes people is too controversial - ◊◊◊◊◊◊◊ pin-headed network executives!
 
Call me old fashion, but somehow I'd prefer a world where same-sex couples are scrambling around (and moving into my neighborhood) trying to get married rather than handgun-ownership advocates telling me how "at risk" we are if we restrict handguns.

Gay neighbors attract the kind of people I like. Namely the non-paranoid tolerant, fashionable, well heeled (non-welfare), I like to hang out with.

I have the added bonus that the gay males won't try to steal my girl-friend.

Charlie (although the lesbians will see her as fair game) Monoxide
 
Charlie Monoxide said:
Call me old fashion, but somehow I'd prefer a world where same-sex couples are scrambling around (and moving into my neighborhood) trying to get married rather than handgun-ownership advocates telling me how "at risk" we are if we restrict handguns.

Gay neighbors attract the kind of people I like. Namely the non-paranoid tolerant, fashionable, well heeled (non-welfare), I like to hang out with.

I have the added bonus that the gay males won't try to steal my girl-friend.

Charlie (although the lesbians will see her as fair game) Monoxide

I doubt that that would be the message.
 
Will and Grace, an Amos 'n Andyesque pastiche of gay stereotypes? Fine for network TV.
Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, a nonstop parade of pride march refugees mincing about with glee? Fine for network TV.
The idea that homosexuals might want to go to church like most Americans, live a normal life and be part of the mainstream? Hell no!

I suspect this has more to do with churches than gays.
 
I suspect this has more to do with churches than gays.

- I suspect you're right, seeing as the networks that show Queer Eye and W&G get constant mouth-foaming from the religious right.

- On a side note, Queer Eye does kinda gross me out a little at times, but my wife absolutely cackles with glee every time it's on. Perhaps it's a hint?
 
AtheistArchon said:
- I suspect you're right, seeing as the networks that show Queer Eye and W&G get constant mouth-foaming from the religious right.

- On a side note, Queer Eye does kinda gross me out a little at times, but my wife absolutely cackles with glee every time it's on. Perhaps it's a hint?

Yeah, the hint is Charlie Monoxide better reassess his perception of relationship security. :D
 
It's odd, because it's a spot for a church that obvious doesn't have problems with gays.

It sounds to me that it's more about church versus church, using gays as a point in the fight. The network might be worried that they'll get dragged into a denomination versus denomination advertising war. If this church uses a pro-gay spot to slam the other churches for not being inclusive, won't one of them retaliate by trying to get aired a commercial slamming the "gay church"? Perhaps a nice interior scene of leathermen and drag queens calling each other "girlfriend" in church while Jesus cries? Then the network would have to either air that, or risk the attendant publicity, boycotts, and lawsuits for refusing to air it.

Personally, I'm pro-gay and anti-religion, but I think the network was smart to steer clear of this nest of snakes.
 
Yeah, the hint is Charlie Monoxide better reassess his perception of relationship security.

- But *I* am a lesbian in a man's body! I even have a butch haircut.

It sounds to me that it's more about church versus church, using gays as a point in the fight. The network might be worried that they'll get dragged into a denomination versus denomination advertising war. If this church uses a pro-gay spot to slam the other churches for not being inclusive, won't one of them retaliate by trying to get aired a commercial slamming the "gay church"? Perhaps a nice interior scene of leathermen and drag queens calling each other "girlfriend" in church while Jesus cries? Then the network would have to either air that, or risk the attendant publicity, boycotts, and lawsuits for refusing to air it.

Personally, I'm pro-gay and anti-religion, but I think the network was smart to steer clear of this nest of snakes.

- Yeah, that's the kicker. It opens the door to Phelpsian crap, or else they get the ACLJ to file a lawsuit and squawk about it in NewsMax.
 
Negative chruch ads! This is great. Nothing better when ads take pot shots at the competition.

I think the Chamber of Commerce should start doing this.

"Visit New York City..........if you want to get MUGGED AND KILLED!"..............paid for by the Boston Chamber of Commerce.
 
It's interesting that the "gay couple" aren't the only ones "denied access" by the bouncers in the commercial, but they're still the ones everybody is focusing on.
 
Joshua Korosi said:
It's interesting that the "gay couple" aren't the only ones "denied access" by the bouncers in the commercial, but they're still the ones everybody is focusing on.

Well, the article did say

"Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples...and the fact that 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," the church quoted CBS as saying.

Had the commercial not included the gay couple(s)--there was a possible/probably lesbian pair at the end--I'm sure CBS might have raised concerns that the commercial seems to be accusing other churches of racism...but gays trump racial minorities for controversiality, at least currently.

I wonder what'll be the next big prejudice? "I'm fine with the gays, but I can't believe I have to live next door to a _____!"

The obese are hated enough, but there are simply too many of them to oppress. Maybe, the deaf?
 

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