TV Station Relents, Gay Families Ad To Air

Last week KABC-TV in Los Angeles refused to run pro-gay family PSA's from Get To Know Us First during the inauguration, saying the clips were "too controversial." After the intervention of GLAAD, the station has relented and will now run the commercials. Via GLAAD's press release:

Los Angeles television station KABC announced today, following a meeting with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the marriage equality group GetToKnowUsFirst.org, that it would begin to air an ad from GetToKnowUsFirst.org in primetime as early as Sunday, Jan. 25. The ABC-owned television station came under fire for refusing to air the ad during Tuesday’s inaugural coverage, for what a KABC ad exec cited at the time as “a very controversial topic” to air during “programming that will include large family audiences.”

“We are pleased that KABC was willing to meet and discuss this serious issue with us so quickly,” said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano, “and that this important message about our families will be seen by KABC’s audiences in the days and weeks to come.” The 30-second ad initially rejected by KABC features two married African American men raising five children ages 6 to 25. However, the ad was broadcast before, during and after the inauguration in 42 of California’s 58 counties, where Proposition 8 garnered the majority of the vote. In Los Angeles, the ad appeared on NBC’s owned-and-operated affiliate KNBC.

The clips will run in primetime, but that massive inauguration audience will never come again.

LA ABC Station Refuses To Air PSAs About Gay Families: "Too Controversial"

Claiming the clips were too controversial to run during inauguration coverage, KABC-TV in Los Angeles refused to run public service announcements from Get To Know Us First, a group that promotes acceptance of LGBT families. From their press release:

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. Project Coordinator John Ireland expressed astonishment at KABC's rejection. He said, "This ad is about families. I challenge anyone to watch the commercials at www.GetToKnowUsFirst.org and articulate what is inappropriate about airing it at any time of day."

Here's the clip.


(Tipped by JMG readers Adrian and Patrick)