In a press release issued November 30 from their Cleveland headquarters, the United Church of Christ said that "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 UCC seeks to welcome all people, regardless of ability, age race, economic circumstance or sexual orientation. According to a written explanation from the CBS, the (UCC) 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 (CBS and UPN) networks.' Similarly, a rejection by NBC declared the spot 'too controversial'."
David Nickell, Moderator of the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples (GLAD) Alliance and a member of the DJAN Decision Team, stated that GLAD would be working with the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns and organizations related to other denominations to express outrage at this action. Groups such as the National Religious Leadership Roundtable, to which both DJAN and GLAD belong, and the Human Rights Campaign have protested the networks' decision. To view the rejected ad on the UCC website go to http://stillspeaking.com/default.htm.
The UCC reports that the ad has been accepted and will air on a number of networks, including ABC Family, AMC, BET, Discovery, Fox, Hallmark, History, Nick@Nite, TBS, Travel and TV Land, among others. DJAN members and friends can visit the DJAN website at www.djan.net or the GLAD Alliance website for updates on the situation. Meanwhile readers are encouraged to contact the networks to protest.
To contact CBS, call: (212) 975-4321
To contact NBC, call: (212) 664-4444
- David Nickel
| GLAD Alliance Inc. P.O. Box 44400 Indianapolis, IN 46244-0400 |
glad@gladalliance.org | return to www.gladalliance.org |