I previously posted here about CBS, Fox, ABC and NBC refusing to air this United Church of Christ ad. It was reported on Friday that LOGO, MTV’s channel for “entertainment programming for lesbians and gays and just about anyone who enjoys a gay point of view,” is also refusing to air the church’s commercial “because of the political nature of its content.” Yes, the “gay channel” feels that airing the gay-friendly church ad would be going too far.

When asked for an official reason, MTV Networks responded, “Our guidelines state we will not accept religious advertisements that may be deemed as disparaging to another religion.”

Ron Buford, director of the UCC’s Stillspeaking Initiative, says the 1.3-million-member denomination’s four-year identity campaign was created after focus group testing revealed the depth to which people felt alienated or rejected by organized religion. The church’s new “ejector” ad uses humor to convey the message, “God doesn’t reject people. Neither do we.”

Buford insists that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons are among those most in need of a welcoming, affirming Christian message, one that the UCC is wanting to share.

“I guess the idea of gay TV doesn’t really mean it’s your community’s network,” Buford told United Church News. “It’s just something that’s targeted at you to sell product.”

On April 6, the UCC’s media action website — http://www.accessibleairwaves.org — launched a letter-writing campaign to LOGO executives, urging them to rethink their decision.

“Viacom’s refusal to air this new commercial is an example of an apparent policy that fails to allow for a full range of religious expression in the United States,” the action alert reads.

U.S. Newswire reports the following networks have accepted the United Church of Christ ad: A&E, AMC, BET, CNN, CNN en espanol, Headline, Hallmark, History, TBS, TNT, E!, Lifetime, Si-TV, and Azteca America.

Heel click: SistersTalk

Jason Johnson, a 20-year-old University of the Cumberlands student, has been expelled from the Williamsburg, KY, school for being out on his MySpace page, a violation of this university policy:

“Any student who engages in or promotes sexual behavior not consistent with Christian principles (including sex outside marriage and homosexuality) may be suspended or asked to withdraw from the University of the Cumberlands.”

University of the Cumberlands President Jim Taylor released the following statement:

“At the University of the Cumberlands, we hold students to a higher standard. Students know the rules before they come to this institution. We’ve followed our policies and procedures in keeping with our traditional denominational beliefs.

“University of the Cumberlands isn’t for everyone. We tell prospective students about our high standards before they come.

“We are different by design, and are non-apologetic about our Christian beliefs.”

I think what he meant to say is that the university tells prospective students about their discrimination policy before they come.

Heel click: Mincing Words

Check out “Overlap – Exploring the Butch/Femme Dichotomy” by Jaeda at queerplanet.us. There’s a quote from this post in it!

Danielle Ryan, a trans woman, “was mocked and taunted by co-workers at engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff where she worked as a network systems analyst” and is now suing Parsons Brinckerhoff. Danielle worked for Parsons Brinckerhoff for ten years when harassment by co-workers began.

Bay Area Reporter:

Danielle Ryan, 44, filed suit Wednesday, March 29, in Sacramento County Superior Court, claiming harassment, gender discrimination, failure to maintain a work environment free of harassment, retaliation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and breach of contract.

Ryan, who lives in Sacramento, said she was employed at the firm for over 10 years and consistently received outstanding performance reviews. She claims that only after her transition in February 2005 did she suffer “pervasive harassment from co-workers and supervisors” and “was threatened with termination, demoted to part-time status and wrongly forced to leave the company.”

“When I let them know I was transitioning, they sent me home from work the same day,” said Ryan.

Her attorney, Waukeen McCoy, of San Francisco-based McCoy and Associates, said, “This lawsuit is important because it will send a message to companies that discrimination or harassment of homosexuals and transgender people will not be tolerated and will not be ignored.”

“To discriminate in any way against an employee for undergoing sex reassignment or otherwise failing to conform to stereotypical notions of how a man or a woman should look or act is prohibited by both Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act,” stated McCoy.

Here is the press release (contact info removed, email me if you need it) regarding the sale of On Our Backs and Girlfriends Magazine I received from H.A.F. Publishing:

ONLINE MEDIA COMPANY BUYS POPULAR LESBIAN MAGAZINES, NEWSLETTERS, AND WEBSITES

San Francisco, CA: H.A.F Publishing has agreed to sell majority assets of Girlfriends and On Our Backs magazines to an online media company. The sale will involve the magazines’ brands, inventory, various assigned licenses and copyright to back content, and all online and newsletter properties; the publisher is also considering other offers on additional aspects of the magazines’ assets. The transaction was initiated by Letter of Intent on February 10, 2006 and is expected to close in late April, at which time the buyer will announce the acquisition as well as its strategies for the assets.

The buyer stated that it was attracted to the magazines’ strong brand recognition in the lesbian market, a combined print and online circulation of more than 100,000, and the magazines’ reputable, award-winning editorial. The buyer specified that it does not have immediate plans for print editions but is very interested in building out the online properties to tap into the growing market for Internet-based ad revenue.

H.A.F. Publishing will continue to publish its popular series of official guides to major San Francisco events, including Inside Pride, the official guide to San Francisco’s Gay Pride Parade and Celebration. Gay Pride in San Francisco is California’s largest outdoor event, drawing more than 500,000 participants; H.A.F. has published its program for 11 years. In 2004 it added the Folsom and Castro Street Fairs to its guide business.

President and Editor in Chief of H.A.F. Publishing Heather Findlay stated, “I had an incredible 12 years with Girlfriends and I’m proud to have been part of On Our Backs’ long tradition of sass and controversy. I think the brands have an exciting future under new ownership and in a new medium.” Findlay further stated that she will be pursuing new opportunities, including an online venture dedicated to wine, as well as continuing to chair the board of the Jessie Smith Noyes Foundation, a New York City-based foundation dedicated to environmental justice and reproductive rights. Findlay will be in New York in early March and then on assignment in South African wine country; she will return to the Bay Area in April to help complete the transition to the new buyer.

Previous post here.

A little birdie told me that On Our Backs and Girlfriends Magazine are being sold to an online media company, and that this sale may mean the end of print editions of the magazines. Is this true? I don’t know, but I just emailed HAF Publishing to see what I can find out.

Update (04/06/06 01:11): It’s true. Press release coming soon.

Rev. Thomas Crouse, who organized Worcester’s Mr. Hetero Contest back in February, is now suing the city of Worcester, MA, claiming that they violated his constitutional rights when Worcester police billed him for providing security for the event.

“Mr. Heterosexual 2006 — A Celebration of God’s Design” drew heavy criticism from LGBT civil rights groups, local politicians and the Human Rights Commission.

As opposition mounted Crouse asked for five police officers to provide security, but after Police Chief Gary J. Gemme met with Norma Sandison, executive director of Mechanics Hall the security detail was beefed up to 20 officers.

A handful of protesters demonstrated outside the hall on Feb 18 as the event went on and the number of people inside the hall was reportedly sparse.

When Rev. Crouse got the bill for the police detail he decided to go to court.

Supported by the Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona legal group that fights against LGBT issues across the country, Crouse says in his lawsuit that his constitutional right to free speech was violated by the heavy police presence. Crouse also claims that police were responsible for the low turnout at the event.

His suit demands reimbursement for unspecified damages, legal fees and asks for an injunction against future fees should Crouse decide to hold other events in Worcester.

You start the trouble, you pay for the cops? Sounds like a good idea to me. And he did start the trouble; he knew what the reaction to the contest would be (we all did), and he continued to move forward with the event.

It’s that time again! (Wow, it’s already been a year since Sue’s review of Tranny Roadshow 2005’s Richmond, VA, show.)

The Tranny Roadshow “is composed of an eclectic group of artists, each one self-identified as transgender, and includes poets, rappers, filmmakers, storytellers, breakdancers, rock bands, comedians, actors, folk singers, photographers, zinesters, and more.”

Performers include “Dylan Scholinski (author of The Last Time I Wore A Dress), Imani Henry (actor/playwright of B4T), Citizen Rahne (singer/songwriter from Baltimore’s Charm City Kitty Club), Tona Brown (violinist and vocalist from the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music), Kelly Shortandqueer and Jamez Terry (zinesters and co-founders of the Denver Zine Library).” Visit the Performers page for performer info (AJ Bryce’s yummy photo is the best part of the page, if ya ask me).

The Tranny Roadshow started on 4/1 and will continue, touring east of the Mississippi River, until 4/30. Click here for the tentative schedule.

Heel click: Teatro de la Vida

Stephen Boyd, the president of the Eagleswood Township school board, named the controversy over Lily McBeth as one of the reasons he has resigned. He says that there were also personal reasons behind his decision to leave the board.

The next Carnival of Bent Attractions will be held at Jay Sennett Jaywalks on April 10th. Submissions are due by midnight tonight!