Posted on 02/13/2007 9:13:35 AM PST by Froufrou
A national communications company refused to display a conservative Christian group's potentially controversial advertisements promoting a conference on sexuality over the weekend.
Focus on the Family expressed disappointment at Clear Channel Outdoor's decision to block ads for its international Love Won Out conference in Phoenix, Ariz.
The billboard ad was drafted to read, "I questioned homosexuality: Change is Possible, Discover How."
Gender issues director at Focus on the Family, Melissa Fryrear, said Monday the advertising company had turned down the business, but as of Monday, its lawyers had not received an explanation for the decision.
A Clear Channel Outdoors representative told Cybercast News Service,"Our local managers review each advertisement on a case-by-case basis to ensure that it meets the tastes and standards of the local community.
"Local managers reserve the right to reject advertising copy if it does not meet their community's standards for appropriateness or the copy is deemed offensive towards any business, group or individual," the representative added.
Fryrear argued that "there is nothing objectionable about [the ad]."
"It gives a hopeful message for those who are dissatisfied living homosexually and [shows] that there is an alternative they could consider," she said
Despite the advertising controversy, the conference was successful, Fryrear said. At the same time, Focus on the Family would never know how many more could have been impacted had the billboard ad not been refused.
"We wanted to try to get the message out in a variety of mediums," she said. "Our concern certainly is that it would have affected potential attendees because we weren't able to promote it as intentionally as we had planned."
Even a group protesting the conference, Arizona Human Rights Foundation (AHRF), questioned the decision to censor the advertisement.
AHRF representative Amy Kobeta said although she was glad the communication company had tried to avoid offense, the move was "a little odd because it seems to be somewhat of an infringement on free speech."
"I would be upset if someone didn't advertise one of our conferences and I think the reverse is also true," Kobeta said.
The ad was eventually picked up by another advertising company in the area.
Focus on the Family said the goal of its annual Love Won Out conference is to answer questions on the divisive issue of sexuality and raise awareness about the continuing need to show love to the homosexual and lesbian community.
"We are trying to help Christians respond in a Christian way to someone who is struggling with homosexuality," Fryrear said. "We are also trying to offer resources and hope to [unhappy homosexuals] that would assist them as they continue to pursue heterosexuality."
She said many of the people attending the conference are Christian family members or friends of homosexuals.
"They don't want to forfeit what they believe about sexuality, and of course they love their loved one," Fryrear said. So Focus on the Family is "helping them continue to stand by what they believe biblically and [show them] how to respond to a gay identified loved one in a compassionate and understanding loving way."
The ARHD and other homosexual advocacy groups, however, expressed concern about the motives of the group.
"I don't understand how it can be compassionate if you are telling someone that they are inherently flawed and they are required to change," Kobeta said.
"The conference is based on two very flawed principles," she said. "One is that homosexuality is a choice and the other is that homosexuality can and should be cured.
"Both of those, we feel, perpetuates stereotypes, bias, and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transsexual people," Kobeta added.
Kobeta argued "this kind of [movement] should not be perpetuated and there is an alternative in loving and accepting yourself for who you are."
Fryrear said she would have preferred that the critics participated in the event.
"The conference has oftentimes been misrepresented and I would much rather them hear the grace that we are exhorting to Christians to extend to them.
"Someone protesting on the sidewalk doesn't have an opportunity to hear that," she said.
Excuse me, but what part of my post - People who truly want to change will go to any lengths to find out about these programs. It's like alcoholism..it's attraction, not promotion. The only thing the billboard will do is make some people angry. And that's exactly what they want, don't kid youself. - do you deem to be out of control? Or are you just being nasty for the sake of being nasty?
This is what "fear of feminazis" does to otherwise normal people.
Homosexuals can already make a legal contract. But I won't support civil unions, or whatever name one wants to slap on it this week.
Plus, I bet you do nothing but bitch and moan online about it.
Go take your Midol, honey. You're letting your PMS rule you.
Focus on the Family can advertise, and any company can refuse the advertising. It happens everyday.
Yes, but business have the right to pick and choose who they will take money from. (Of course, once it becomes public knowledge, they may end up losing other customers because of that choice.)
Indeed. Just a few short years ago, when this was a free country, most folks would have simply lived and let live. It's only recently that some people have developed this fascination about what other people do in the privacy of their own bedrooms. I chalk it all up to the rise of the nanny-staters who want to control every aspect of their neighbors' lives -- a bit like Sharia Law.
The truth is, homosexuals can change. Even Robert Spitzer changed his mind.
They can't "go to any lengths" to find out about a program that they don't know even exists.
The billboard does not reach out and grab people and force them to sign up for these programs. Just viewing a billboard will provide the inspiration for someone who truly wants to change to seek out the program. Not knowing that these programs exist and being constantly told that change is impossible may drive these people to despair.
You are indeed out of control if you feel threatened by a billboard.
So gays aren't the only group you tend to stereotype. Beautiful...it usually takes longer before people reveal their true ignorant nature.
The advice there is certainly something to consider.
There is not a gay person alive who doesn't know there are programs stating they will help you change if you want to. A billboard will attract nothing but negative attention. That being said, it would be like Jews for Jesus for me...I don't care if a billboard is up for that, although I think the organization is ridiculous...but do you reallly think it's going to change the life of an unhappy Jew driving by and seeing it?
Whoops. I meant Love Won Out, although Love in Action is a very similar organization.
Oh really?
Sweetie, I'm a female. I can spot one of my own who is having a little hormone trouble, and you have all the classic signs.
Hm. Private company, private billboard, seems that they should be able to do as they please with. OTOH, Clear Channel's business is based on public licenses, the broadcast airwaves being a limited resource that are regulated by the government. So this is not a clear issue.
Clear Channel doesn't want to get involved in the kulturkampf. Picking a side on this issue could only alienate a significant number of consumers - far more than just refusing the ad could alienate. By refusing the ad, they refuse to get drawn into this contentious issue.
I agree with their business decision.
Yes, that is what I believe. And I don't believe a billboard is going to do anything constructive.
Nothing. Focus on the Family, however, is not entitled to a forum for this message - and Clear Channel rightly decided their ad space was not an appropriate forum for this message.
Free speech means the government can't stop you - it does not entitle you to a means to distribute your rants and raves.
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