Network Censorship can't Silence Church's Campaign

NETWORK CENSORSHIP CAN'T SILENCE CHURCH'S CAMPAIGN
[SOURCE: San Jose Mercury News, AUTHOR: Ron Buford, United Church of Christ]
[Commentary] Network censorship is alive and well. The United Church of Christ, the same organization that won a landmark case against a Jackson (Miss) TV station that edited out civil rights activities as too controversial to air, is now itself a victim of censorship. This month, a new television ad for UCC's "God Is Still Speaking" campaign is airing across the country. The ad, called "Ejector Seats," shows a variety of people being literally ejected from a church because they're "different": homeless, gay, Middle Eastern or just ordinary people with noisy kids. The campaign's message is simple. No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you're welcome in the UCC. Like modern Bible parables, these commercials are short, catchy, simple and memorable. And like the Bible parables, they challenge the status quo. Perhaps that's why they've been branded as "too controversial" by the major television networks. The message about rejection was itself rejected, and ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX all refused to air the ad. Network executives believe they're being fair because they air programs with gay characters. From "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy'" to "Will & Grace," the networks portray gay people in one dimension, like minstrels who exist simply to entertain viewers. But showing lesbians and gay men seeking relationships with God is deemed "too controversial" for the public airwaves. We're simply asking to pay for airtime, like any other advertiser reaching people in the marketplace. Just as Jackson's WLBT refused to sell advertising time to an African-American minister who was running for Congress in 1962, the networks will not do business with a church that proclaims everyone is welcome in 2006.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/14276603.htm