Reply #14: Remember when TV networks refused to run some UCC ads because they showed acceptance of gays?

[Garbo 2004]

CBS, NBC refuse to air church's television advertisement

United Church of Christ ad highlighting Jesus' extravagant welcome called
'too controversial'

CLEVELAND -- The CBS and NBC television networks are refusing to run a
30-second television ad from the United Church of Christ because its
all-inclusive welcome has been deemed "too controversial."

The ad, part of the denomination's new, broad identity campaign set to
begin airing nationwide on Dec. 1, states that -- like Jesus -- the United
Church of Christ (UCC) seeks to welcome all people, regardless of ability,
age, race, economic circumstance or sexual orientation.

According to a written explanation from CBS, the United Church of Christ is
being denied network access because its ad implies acceptance of gay and
lesbian couples -- among other minority constituencies -- and is,
therefore, too "controversial."

"Because this commercial touches on the exclusion of gay couples and other
minority groups by other individuals and organizations," reads an
explanation from CBS, "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 UPN] networks."

Similarly, a rejection by NBC declared the spot "too controversial." http://www.wfn.org/2004/11/msg00231.html

FAIR action alert at the time: http://www.fair.org/activism/church-ad.html

Here's the UCC ad CBS/NBC said they wouldn't run:

"The Bouncer"
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8710684234586455338&q=UCC+advertisements+gays&total=4&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=2