wfn.org | [UCC NEWS] Banned commercial named ad industry's best

[guessb@ucc.org]

United Church of Christ
United Church News
The Rev. J. Bennett Guess, News Director
216/736-2177, guessb@ucc.org

May 24, 2005

UCC's banned commercial named ad industry's best for pro-gay portrayal
>From PR Newswire

      NEW YORK ? A United Church of Christ television commercial by Gotham
Inc., banned by the big three television networks, was named Outstanding
2004 Commercial for its positive portrayal of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender (LGBT) people at the first-ever Commercial Closet Images in
Advertising Awards on May 23.
      The nonprofit Commercial Closet Association works to improve public
opinion of the LGBT community through more informed LGBT portrayals in
the
powerful medium of advertising.
      Honored for its bold embrace of diversity, the United Church of
Christ commercial stirred controversy with its portrayal of a male couple
prevented from entering a church by two bouncers. The commercial concludes
with a diverse group of church members that includes a female couple.
      Hosted by Merrill Lynch at its headquarters in the World Financial
Center, the Images in Advertising Awards featured a special appearance
by
comedian Kate Clinton and was co-hosted by Queer Eye for the Straight Guy
stars Thom Filicia and Kyan Douglas.
      Learn more about the Images in Advertising Awards at:
http://65.110.71.27/comc/winners.cfm

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