Networks reject second UCC ad

[kweerwolf]

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.

"We hope to reach 70 percent of the population with this message. We want to raise questions in people's minds about their preconceived notions about homosexuals," said Ron Buford, coordinator and team leader of UCC's Still Speaking initiative.

Buford, 49, who is gay and African American, said the commercials are meant to brand UCC as a church open to all and to differentiate the denomination from the Church of Christ, a more conservative faith. The ads are part of the church's Still Speaking campaign, meant to inform nonmembers about UCC's lineage stretching back to the Pilgrims and its history of being a leader in supporting progressive causes from abolishing slavery to women's suffrage to the civil and gay rights movements.

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

[zbdent]

1. And the righties fume because they cannot post the ten commandments

all over the buildings - well, here's a church trying to use its FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS!

Maybe they should contact the ACLU - that should really piss off the righties - the ACLU helping a church . . .

[TaleWgnDg]

2. Au contraire . . . the ACLU helps churches and other religious

institutions all the time. The ACLU attempts to uphold the Bill of Rights including the first amendment's Separation of Church and State, i.e., to keep the government out of religion and to keep religion out of the government. It works both ways. And, it is beneficial for all America when it works successfully both ways, not merely for the whims of whatever political party is in power at the moment including George Walker Bush's extremist evangelicals. Thus, it would not be unusual for the ACLU to take a stance:


ACLU banner http://www.aclu.org/ReligiousLiberty/ReligiousLibertyMain.cfm

However, the first amendment right of freedom of speech and freedom of religion (both 1st amendment issues) that the UCC may have is balanced by the contractual rights of the television network as well as FCC regulations and constitutional issues. It's not as cut and dry as you may assume.
.