If you were around yesterday, you
already know about how ABC
refused to air the United Church of Christ's
inclusive TV ad, citing a blanket 'no advertisements from religious groups' policy. Well, that's understandable, right?
Except that now, we learn that ABC is running ads for Focus on the Family, the notoriously anti-gay, right-wing Christian "family values" advocacy group, headed by Spongebob's sworn enemy himself, Dr. James Dobson. (FoF now boasts that as a result of these ads, nearly 10,000 new families have joined Focus on the Family.)
The bottom line is this: for ABC to selectively apply a dubious policy in this way is out-and-out discrimination. We must not be complicit in the continual silencing of our own progressive voices. If ABC can't or won't be bothered to at the very least apply their corporate agenda equally across the political spectrum, then we need to send the unmistakable message: no more.
And we need that more than we need "Desperate Housewives." It's time for a boycott.
Why? What do we hope to achieve?
Here's a partial list that comes to mind:
- Send a message to the RWCM that egregious examples of suppression of minority groups is intolerable, and that we're paying attention
- Remind the powers that be that progressive viewers are a large constituency, too large to be shoved aside
- Raise public awareness, help bolster an FCC investigation into ABC's discriminatory practices
- Maybe get some play for the UCC ad? (I'm not holding my breath, but who knows?
In order for a boycott like this to be successful, we need to first and foremost, helpfully explain to ABC:
- How you presently watch [these ABC shows] but are now giving them up because you refuse to be complicit in their discrimination
- How you feel personally betrayed by their selective pandering to the religious right
- How you will personally encourage everybody else you know to follow suit
Keeping up the pressure via emails and phone calls is vital. I don't know if this specifically makes any difference at all, but I've been cc'ing ABC on each of my emails to family and friends in which I encourage them to boycott ABC. Can't hurt, and I get sort of a vindictive pleasure out of doing it.
Also, of course, there's the typical activist outlets: LTE writing, sign posting, etc.
It is also a really good idea to go after your local ABC affiliate. Local pressure on an affiliated-yet-not-directly-responsible group often results in the local guys going back to mom and pop and complaining, which can very often be the tipping point.
(The affiliate look-up has been brought to you by DemInPA, ironically via a conservative censorship site. (Thanks, conservative censorship site--we couldn't have done it without you!)