Crossposted at
My Left Wing
The Associated Press - ATLANTA
An outdoor advertising company said Friday it refused to rent billboard space in South Georgia to a gay and lesbian advocacy group because their sign didn't meet "community standards.
Lamar Outdoor Advertising's South Georgia general manager, James Locke, said he turned the group down because of the wording that would have been used on the signs.
The group wanting to buy the space is Atlanta-based Georgia Equality.
"We just didn't feel the copy was right for those markets," Locke told Morris News Service in a telephone interview. "These are the markets we do business in, and I know the community standards of these markets."
Full Story
The truth is, that Lamar is correct - in Georgia the word GAY is a violation of community standards, and there is no doubt they would receive protests should they dare to run this ad.
To get an idea of the reaction in Atlanta, where Channel has run the ads, listen here.
I don't know how to say how sad this situation is, and Lamar Advertising is a pawn in the middle, but they are also the nations third largest Outdoor Advertising company and could afford to take a stand for tolerance if they wanted to.
If anyone wants to encourage them to do so their contact information is here
President Kevin P. Reilly Jr.
5551 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 2-A
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
General Information: Theresa Doran tdoran@lamarhq.com
Mailing Address
P. O. Box 66338
Baton Rouge, LA 70896
Corporate Phone Number
(225) 926-1000