CA: KABC-TV deems ad with gay families 'too controversial' to air during inauguration

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 5:44pm

Non-profit organization GetToKnowUsFirst.org produced five 30-second commercials featuring gay and lesbian families, with the message "Marriage promotes families. Support marriage equality." The ads, while not tied to any current election, are the result of California's passage of Proposition 8 in November. The group aired the spots in 42 of the states' 58 counties -- everywhere the initiative passed by 50% or more -- during Tuesday's coverage of the Presidential Inauguration. KABC is the only station that refused to sell the ad space.

The rejected ad profiles two African American men raising five children ages 6 through 25. Ironically, the family lives in Los Angeles.

The media buy was attempted by the organization's ad agency, New and Improved Media. Its CEO, Keith Fisher, was surprised that KABC rejected the group's money. Fisher said, "We usually only see this with risque content, as in a trailer for a movie." He added, "If KABC thinks they have to protect the public from this family, something's obviously very wrong over there."

Chris Yokogawa, the ad agency's media buyer, worked with the station, attempting to ease any concerns they might have. He said, "We went back and forth a couple of times. I explained that this family is far from controversial. They were firm in their rejection. They said it was too controversial to air during the Inauguration, since 'many families will be watching.'"

The ad aired across California on Tuesday -- before, during and after the Presidential Inauguration on Good Morning America, The Today Show, Despierta America (Univision) and Levantate (Telemundo) broadcasts, as well as on a wide range of regional news stations, CNN and FoxNews during evening coverage of the day's events.

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=9146

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 5:47pm

Baby steps, y'all. Baby steps.

[tazber]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 5:51pm

8 years from now, this will seem quaint.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 5:55pm

Too controversial to air during the inauguration? Rick Warren was controversial as well-- it's pretty obvious that by 'controversial,' they meant, 'will make conservatives even more uncomfortable.' This really makes me sick.

And I'm a Republican! (I didn't support either McCain or Obama, though, for the record.)

Updated On: 1/21/09 at 05:55 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 6:13pm

Gay is the new Negro.

[Calvin]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 9:45pm

ABC just doesn't want anything to contradict its stance that the gays aren't useful outside of serving as Vanessa Williams' bitchy assistant.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 11:22pm

It was the local affiliate that refused to air the ad. The article says it ran on Good Morning America (which is an ABC show) on other affiliates, plus the Today Show, Latin channels and Fox news.

Sounds like it was the decision of a single stupid homophobe, not ABC.
Los Angeles Affiliate KABC-TV Refuses to Air Ad With Gay Families During Inauguration: 'Too Controversial, Families Will Be Watching.'

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 1/21/09 at 11:24pm

The group aired the spots in 42 of the states' 58 counties -- everywhere the initiative passed by 50% or more

So, alas, it played only in places where it was preaching to the choir.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 1:46pm

KNBC Refuses to Air Gay Family Ad During Super Bowl

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/2/09 at 1:50pm

Baby steps, y'all. Baby steps. Too much too soon.