Utah Companies Reject “Controversial” Pro-Gay Billboard, Will Still Run Ads For Rush Limbaugh, Chick-Fil-A, The GOP
Two different billboard advertising companies in Utah have rejected applications to display pro-gay messages on billboards in the Salt Lake City area, citing the phrase “God Loves Gays” as “controversial,” and “advancing sensitive political interests,” and therefore against their policies.
In statements to BuzzFeed, both companies have also conveniently forgot to mention that they rent space to companies and politicians who vocally oppose LGBT rights, something that could easily be interpreted by some as controversial and designed to advance sensitive political interests.
The rejection statements come in response to the anonymous activist “God’s” campaign to erect “God Loves Gays” billboards in key American cities to combat anti-gay information distributed by the Westboro Baptist Church and, in this case, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Since August, God has raised nearly $100,000 on Indiegogo to fund the billboard campaign; he erected the first in Westboro’s hometown of Topeka earlier this month.
Thank you, @TheGoodGodAbove & all His supporters for generously providing this new billboard to the @cityoftopeka pic.twitter.com/g5BrHX9VYB
— PlantingPeace (@Planting_Peace) September 8, 2014
His next intended stop was Utah, to antagonize the Mormons, of course.
But two Utah-based billboard advertising companies are not interested in spreading the message, as they feel it’s “controversial” and advancing the gay agenda.
Speaking with BuzzFeed Friday, Dewey Reagan of Reagan Outdoor Advertising said:
“…rejecting the ads does not reflect the company’s or any of its employees’ position on the topic. It was a business decision based on structural realities of our business. We don’t actually own the majority of the land underneath the signs where our billboards are located. They are there pursuant to land lease agreements and some of those specifically prohibit display of ad copy that is controversial.”
Well that’s funny, since Reagan National Advertising doesn’t seem to think there’s anything possibly controversial about running ads for Rush Limbaugh and Chick-fil-A. Surely those parties would be considered “controversial” by some, and most definitely offensive to many.
YESCO, the second billboard advertising company to reject the God Loves Gays billboard based on its pro-gay content, offered the following statement to BuzzFeed:
“As a privately owned company, YESCO carefully evaluates all requests for advertising placement. We avoid accepting advertisements that are interpreted as advancing sensitive religious, social, or political interests.”
Advancing sensitive political interests? That’s exactly what Salt Lake City Republican mayoral candidate Mark Crockett was doing when YESCO rented space to him back in 2012. What gives?
God tells BuzzFeed that “the LORD shall not be denied,” adding:
“I understand that [the companies] fear using the words God, loves, and gays in the same sentence. Why am I not allowed to have free speech? Huh? Isn’t this America? Oh, I’m sorry, I thought this was America.”
“It’s extremely important for young LGBT people to know that God loves them just the way they are,” they said. “So many young gay teens struggle with persecution and consider suicide as the only way out. I have talked to countless LGBT teens in this situation via private messages on Facebook. This message can actually save lives. This is also why I’ve pledged to donate $30,000 to the Trevor Project, The Equality House, and the National Alliance to End Homelessness.”
This is not over.
Matthew Tharrett
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