Tell Viacom to run the new United Church of Christ ad

[Ian David]

Tell Viacom to run the new UCC ad
http://ga3.org/campaign/viacom/

Viacom has rejected the United Church of Christ’s latest TV ad, the "ejector seat." While Viacom runs ads laced with sexual innuendo, greed, and violence, it refuses to run an ad that says "you're welcome here." Tell them to run the ad!


Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Viacom Management

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Open the airwaves to the United Church of Christ

Dear {decision maker name automatically inserted here},

I am writing to you today to express my alarm with your decision to reject the United Church of Christ's latest TV ad, the "ejector seat." Apparently, you think the ad is too "political." Shame on you! You should allow this ad to run.

Viacom's refusal to air this new commercial is an example of an apparent policy that fails to allow for a full range of religious expression in the United States.

The UCC had hoped to run its latest ad on Nick at Nite, TV Land, and LOGO, a new cable channel for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) audience. I am particularly alarmed that you would be willing to create a cable channel specifically for an LGTB audience and then deny that audience a chance to see an ad that specifically reaches out to that community in such a positive way.

While you are willing to run television ads laced with sexual innuendo, greed, violence, and the politics of personal destruction, a message of openness and welcome that merely says "church doors are open to all" is being silenced as too controversial.

Churches like the United Church of Christ should be allowed to deliver positive messages that seek to build and enrich the quality of life.

Instructions:

Click here to take action on this issue
http://ga3.org/campaign/viacom/

What's At Stake:

Unlike last year, Viacom has rejected the United Church of Christ’s latest TV commercial. Last year, most networks refused to run “Extravagant Welcome,” the church’s award-winning 30-second television ad. Viacom was one of the few corporations that agreed to put the commercial on its various channels (e.g. MTV).

The first ad, part of UCC's broad identity campaign, stated that -- like Jesus -- the United Church of Christ seeks to welcome all people, regardless of ability, age, race, economic circumstance or sexual orientation.

The UCC's newest ad uses humor to draw attention to a serious topic – the feelings of rejection that many people say they have experienced through institutionalized religion. It begins with a shot of an African-American mother trying to calm a crying baby. Sitting in a church pew, the mother fidgets anxiously, as she endures sour looks from fellow worshipers. Eventually, someone in the wings pushes an "ejector" button to rid the church of her – and her noisy baby. Into the air they go flying.

In a similar fashion, a gay male couple, an Arab-American, a person using a walker, among others, get “ejected.” Finally, when a homeless person wanders in and takes a seat, nervous parishioners – expecting she’ll get the boot for sure – scoot away from her. "God doesn't reject people. Neither do we," reads the text on the screen.

The commercial then ends with a contrasting image – shots of diverse, welcoming UCC members.

Campaign Expiration Date:
May 5, 2007