A Push to Curb the Casual Use of Ugly Phrases

FOR the first time since the Advertising Council was founded in 1942, the organization — which directs and coordinates public service campaigns on behalf of Madison Avenue and the media industry — is introducing ads meant to tackle a social issue of concern to gays and lesbians.

The campaign, which is scheduled to be announced by the council in Washington on Wednesday, will seek to discourage bullying and harassment of teenagers who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.

[EclipsedExistenc e]

I wonder how long before those who are against homosexuality cry that it imposes on their freedom to believe homosexuality is wrong and have it taken down...

[Mark in Caledonia MI]

EclipsedExistence wrote:

I wonder how long before those who are against homosexuality cry that it imposes on their freedom to believe homosexuality is wrong and have it taken down...

Unfortunately it won't be long. They'll say that they're freedom of speech is being taken away from them.

[ScottyMatic]

I think the Ad Council's hearts are in the right place, but having seen a great many of their initiatives in the past, I am more than a little concerned about their execution of this idea.

For one thing, the media spots will only air on a voluntary basis... It will come down to the corporate level with radio and tv as to whether such messages get any airtime. And right now, like everyone else, radio and tv companies are hurting financially. It's a lot less likely these days that they will give away free airtime for PSA's that they aren't required to air.

And even if they do, what is that message going to be? "Please don't tease the homos!" If the message isn't very carefully crafted, and with exceptional sensitivity, I can see LGBT kids getting teased about the ads!

Bully: "I was going to beat the snot out of you, but you're a homo, right? I'll leave you alone if you admit that you're gay..."

I support efforts to protect LGBT youth from hate-based bullying,(and for that matter, all kids from all bullying were it possible.) But if a media campaign could ever have changed people's minds about homosexuality, then it would have been done already, and we wouldn't be having this discussion. Ironically, the show "Will & Grace" did more to change people's attitudes than any public service message ever has.