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.
Although that might have been a better choice of words, I doubt it would have made any difference.
"Ok, I'm convinced. You showed me 3 examples that must be the way the whole world is. /s"
I've never been surprized by the formal outing of anyone I have ever known. Every little feminine boy I can remember, which is not many, has ultimately come out as gay. I've never known a soul to suddenly "go gay" or vice-versa. I will choose to believe my lying eyes on this one.
I do think this program may help some people. Like the girls who go off to college or whatever and start sleeping with other girls because they think guys think it's sexy. I've met numerous girls who fit that mold. They are not true homosexuals, though, IMO.
Something else is wrong with most homosexuals, I think. They are like child molestors. They suffer from similar sexual perversions. They are what they are and even they admit they can't stop. I don't know if this is nature or environmental. Probably a little of both.
I know people can stop their behaviors associated with homosexuality by pure will. That does not mean they are no longer homosexuals, though.
You are correct, nobody is born gay. Or, they are as much as people are born attracted to big breasted women or men with big biceps.
What I'm saying is that we have this perfectly ephemeral issue, who someone is attracted to, and the homosexual advocates tell us that is an immutable characteristic of the person. In fact, a quote from this article we're discussing says it's hurtful to tell them they may have been born wrong.
On the other hand we have this perfectly physical issue, whether someone has a penis or a vagina, and the same community tells us they can be born wrong and need a change.
I just don't get it.
Actually, I do. It's about validating people's feelings, whether they have any basis in reality or not.
Shalom.
Tomato?
ROTFLMAO
Shalom.
That was my thought - now businesses are offended by organizations promoting a moral stance and they don't blink an eye about sexually charaged billboards.
"It's about validating people's feelings, whether they have any basis in reality or not."
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner! You are 1000% correct!
Some murderers probably ARE born that way but they still have to be responsible for their crimes.
Its not a crime to be gay.If it was,we wouldn't have enough prisons in the country to hold them all.
Besides,be real.Many heterosexulas do the same type of sex activities that gays do.Should we lock up all those Sodomites also?
I think that's who people like Focus on the Family are trying to help.
"So by extension of that same wickedly idiotic logic, all murderers were born that way too. And all wife-beaters, and all thieves."
I think those are traits associated with being a sociopath, and while homosexuality is (IMO) behavioral, I don't think it is quite the same thing. The jury is out regarding the 'born gay' thing, although as another poster said, some indicate those traits from a young age.
I'l read those links when I have more time but my internal logic tells me that being gay or straight is not like choosing between Carls Junior and Burger King.
I never found Bob or Jack sexually enticing.I did find Sally and Gina to be a turn on.
Whats so crazy is that I got along much better with Bob and Jack.I just never wanted to go to bed with them.
Thank you. Thank you. I'd just like to thank the little people who made all this possible and publicly tell the Dixie Chicks, You still stink!
Shalom.
Why would their *lawyers* want an explanation?
Born Gay?Hey,sounds like a song to me!
Born gay,with no one to hide you
The world will abide you when you are born gay
Born queer,with nothing to fear
All the cute boys will leer
When you are born queer
Sorry,I couldn't help myself.Some say people are born gay.Every gay person I ever met told me that they knew from a very young age that they were"that way"
Though,who knows,maybe they just sort of got sucked into it unknowingly and their fate was sealed.
There are a number of folks who would agree with you. What many people don't realize is there are many more effeminate straight men then gay men.
I don't know if this is nature or environmental. Probably a little of both.
There you go. But... there's much more to it than that. In regards to nature we must understand what and how little linkage and association mean, and what's even more important, is understanding how the major factor, environment, plays into the mix. It's a very complex issue. Along these lines you may find the following of interest: The Gay Gene?.
I don't know.
What I think is important is reading what ex-gays have to say. The I Do Exist video tells the story of 5 ex-gays and is quite revealing. The ex-gays state their formerly held same-sex attractions were not a choice. They clarify their statement by saying their attractions were not a choice because they were confused about their sexuality.
When I first started reading about homosexuality I had my own biases that I thought were correct. Since then I've refined my position by doing thread things: reading, reading and reading. When you have the time I encourage you to checkout the links on this thread.
Perhaps many of the former gays went straight because its easier to live with that lifestyle.
The whole issue is a bizarre one for me.I never felt the slightest inkling of attraction to to other guys.Yet I always got along better with men in social situations.I felt I could be myself with other males and always felt awkward around girls and women,like I was putting on an act.
Yet I always had a strong sex attraction to women.Which led to many very dysfunctional relationships with them since it seemed we were replaying the old Men for Mars,Women from Venus paradigm over and over.
Perhaps that's true of some ex-gays. I don't think that can be said of the 5 ex-gays in the I Do Exist video. You can also read how others left the lifestyle here.
You should also read what Robert Spitzer has said on the matter. Spitzer Study Published: Evidence Found for Effectiveness of Reorientation Therapy. If you realize who Spitzer is, what he used to believe and what he believes now about homosexuals leaving the lifestyle, that should tell you something about the possibility of change.
"Though,who knows,maybe they just sort of got sucked into it unknowingly and their fate was sealed."
Intentional wording or Freudian slip?
Just a joke,bk,just another example of my twisted sense of humor!
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