Prior to the recent Love Won Out conference in Phoenix, Focus on the Family tried to purchase space on billboards owned by media communications company Clear Channel. The billboards were to bear the organization’s familiar drumbeat “I questioned homosexuality: Change is Possible, Discover How.” Clear Channel declined.
Speaking on behalf of Focus on the Family, Melissa Fryrear said “the advertising company had turned down the business, but as of Monday, its lawyers had not received an explanation for the decision.” Clear Channel is a publicly traded company, and while they do own TV and radio stations, the Focus ad request was for billboard space. Billboards do not involve publicly owned airwaves, nevertheless Focus has apparently involved their attorneys in the matter.
For its part, Clear Channel said that “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.” Fryrear argued that there is nothing objectionable about a message which gives an alternative to those dissatisfied with “living homosexually.” Apparently Ms. Fryrear does not acknowledge the possibility that saying gays and lesbians are simply “living homosexually” could be objectionable.
Does Focus on the Family support the free speech rights of Clear Channel? Perhaps Clear Channel is simply taking the advice of the American Family Association in their threats to Ford and Walmart, that they should remain “neutral in the cultural battles.” If so, America’s corporations should take note, you’re damned if you do and your damned if you don’t.
Source: cnsnews.com
Maybe Clear Chanel doesn’t want to be sued for FRAUD, seeing how the advertisement is certainly fraudulent in not explaining that the possibility of change is extremely remote (2% or less), subject to interpretation, and may require employment as a professional change advocate to be effective.
and may require employment as a professional change advocate to be effective
ok, that made me chuckle
Sharon…you’ve hit it babe.
Although there are public air and billboard spaces to be bought. There ARE FCC rules concering advertising and fraud.
Especially when it comes to SERVICES provided that involve one’s emotional and mental well being.
Psychiatrists aren’t allowed to say…” question schizophrenia, change is possible, find out how.”
So….for LWO to think that they should be able to get away with such actions, they can’t.
It’s a dangerous thing to do, and if an ad sponsor is smart…they would stay away from such business.
Let’s be honest, though. Religious institutions have billboards all the time. There’s one near here that says “Wise people choose Jesus. Are you wise?” etc. etc.
To an atheist, such billboards proclaiming happiness and freedom through Christianity would be considered fraudulent. It’s the billboard provider’s right to turn down any customer for any reason. You don’t have to say Exodus is being fraudulent. Misguided and misleading? Probably, but fraudulent? No.
I’m an atheist, Jay, and I don’t find anything fraudulent about a billboard that claims that xianity can bring people happiness and freedom (though I’m not sure how one is defining “freedom” in this context). That’s because there is plenty of evidence to show that many people find happiness through their religion. There isn’t any evidence that change is possible for most gay people, and nothing compelling for any people. Further, there is plenty of evidence that in many if not most cases, programs like LWO is detrimental to the emotional well-being of thosewho wish for change. I’m not sure how that is anything *but* fraudulent.