Gay Boycott of Viacom

Here's a copy of a message I sent to Viacom (parent company of CBS and UPN, and LOGO, a new "gay and lesbian cable channel") today, in response to the shocking news that Viacom has decided that the fact that "the Executive Branch has recently proposed a Constitutional Amendment to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman" makes an advertisement promoting acceptance of gays "unacceptable for broadcast on the [CBS and UPN] networks.":

Dear Tom Freston, Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks:

I'm astonished, dismayed, and outraged that Viacom has decided that it's okay to exploit the gay and lesbian market for commercial purposes, but you won't run a church ad that advocates acceptance of gays because it's "too controversial."

Are you guys serious? I can't believe that a network which had previously announced the formation of LOGO, a cable network for gays is stooping to this new low. Your reference to CBS and UPN's apparent support for an Amendment to enshrine anti-gay discrimination into the U.S. Constitution is particularly appalling. Your credibility in the eyes of the gay community will be tarnished for a long time over this. Personally I think it's the last straw, and have decided it's time for a boycott.

If the United Church of Christ's ad is unacceptable on your network, then you have no business soliciting the viewership of gays and lesbians. Your decision is a dangerous precedent for both religious freedom and because it sends the message that your network values the viewership of anti-gay religious extremists more than the viewership of gays and lesbians.

I expect that you will come to your senses shortly and will rescind this terrible decision, but until that time, I intend to boycott television viewing on your network and will urge all my friends to do the same.

I will also tell everyone I know to avoid watching your anti-gay network. When LOGO debuts, I will refuse to watch or support it in any way.

Joe Perez

Comments

[Mumcat]

Don't forget to tell them that you will also be boycotting the sponsors who advertise on those channels -- and also write to those sponsors. The one thing that makes networks cringe is the thought that advertisers will pull out over something or other on the network. Just a suggestion.

[Brian]

Dear Mr. Perez,
While I agree with your overall point, perhaps a better strategy than boycotting CBS or UPN would be to create a public boycott of advertisers that sponsor these stations. For example (to use a cliche),when gay people and those who support them stop buying Martha Stewart linens, KMART just might want to put a little pressure on the television industry.
Brian D. Of Long Beach, CA

[Joe Perez]

Excellent points on boycotting advertisers. What we need now is somebody to do a "Stop Dr. Laura" but make it into "Stop Viacom." I don't watch a heck of a lot of TV, but when I do, I have been Just Saying No to CBS and UPN.

I suppose I should be just as upset at NBC, but frankly it was the CBS statement that linked their decision to the anti-gay Constitutional Amendment that I find most astonishing. Also the Viacom link to the LOGO channel is really disturbing... until they apologize and rescind their decision, Viacom is a company that has no business targetting a LGBT audience.