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Wednesday June 18 5:57 PM EDT

Southern Baptists Boycott Disney on Gay Issue By Kieran Murray

DALLAS (Reuter) - Southern Baptists launched a boycott against Walt Disney Co. and its subsidiaries Wednesday, accusing the entertainment giant of abandoning its wholesome image of the past to promote homosexuality.

A sweeping boycott of Disney's theme parks, stores and all of its subsidiaries -- including ABC television and radio -- was overwhelmingly approved by delegates of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation's largest Protestant denomination, at an annual meeting in Dallas.

But opponents questioned how many of the group's 15.7 million members nationwide would follow the non-binding call to stay away from Disney World and Disney stores, stop renting its classic animated movies and boycott its subsidiaries.

Rev. Richard Land, president of the Southern Baptists' Christian Life Commission, said he expected a strong response.

"Disney is going to find out just how many regiments

and just how many divisions of godly people Southern Baptists have,"

Disney angered Southern Baptists and other conservative religious groups because it offered health benefits to the partners of its homosexual employees and allowed "Gay Days" organized by gay rights groups at its theme parks.

Southern Baptists last June gave Disney one year to respond to their objections but Land said the multibillion dollar company instead increased what he described as "anti-family, pro-gay, pro-lesbian" policies and products.

"On good days, the Disney corporation ignored us. On bad days, they contemptuously gave us the back of their hands," Land told the 12,000 delegates, who are called "messengers".

Conservative critics have for several years complained about sex and violence in movies made by Disney and its subsidiaries. Some like "Pulp Fiction" and "Kids" were aimed at adult audiences, but even some of Disney's trademark animated movies for children have come under attack.

The American Family Association claimed "The Lion King" included a homosexual relationship between a meerkat and a wart hog, and "The Little Mermaid" depicted a priest becoming sexually aroused while presiding over a wedding.

The final straw for Disney's critics came earlier this year when actress Ellen DeGeneres and the character she plays in "Ellen," a popular sitcom on Disney-owned ABC television, announced they were lesbians.

Southern Baptist leaders said the "Ellen" episode showed Disney had no intention of providing more traditional family entertainment.

Some delegates said it was unreasonable and divisive to ask ordinary Southern Baptists to rule out family trips to Disney World, stop renting "The Jungle Book" videos or buying "Mickey Mouse" T-shirts for their children.

But most argued it was important to take a stand, even if the boycott fails to knock a dent in Disney's huge earnings.

Disney had revenues of $21 billion in 1996 and its subsidiaries include ABC, the Miramax and Touchstone movie production companies, Hollywood Records, the ESPN cable channel, the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim professional hockey franchise and the Anaheim Angels major league baseball team.

It also owns numerous magazines, newspapers, trade journals and other businesses.

The resolution passed on Wednesday calls on all Southern Baptists "to take the stewardship of their time, money and resources so seriously that they refrain from patronizing The Disney Company and any of its related entities."

Some delegates also proposed action be taken against the McDonalds Corp fast food chain and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. because they sell or promote Disney products, but no decision on those motions was expected until Thursday.

Disney officials declined to comment on the impact of any boycott but said the company had nothing to be ashamed of.

"We are very proud that Disney creates more family entertainment

of every kind than anyone else in the world, and we plan to increase that production,"

Gay rights activists say Disney is one of a growing number of companies that have dropped discriminatory policies,
and that the Southern Baptist delegates are out of tune with mImagestream American society.

"They are overestimating the anti-gay sentiment in their own organization and the country,"
said David Smith, a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign gay rights group
which lobbies Congress and big U.S. companies.

Email correspondence source
Subject: Southern Baptists Boycott Disney on Gay Issue
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 18:47:42 -0500
From: Kepi <kepi58@telapex.com>
To: kepi58@telapex.com

AFA Press Release... ABC/Disney pushes Homosexuality full-throttle

Disney using ABC to sell homosexual vision to nation's television viewers

Families shocked by homosexual celebration at Magic Kingdom

Disney signs occultic rock band

Miscellaneous items re Disney

Despatch Vol.11:1 comments re Disney

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Endtime Ministries...Christian Resource Centre Editor of Despatch W. B. Howard Ph. 0754941672 Fac. 0754948617 Mob. 0407636611 P.O. Box 238, Landsborough. Q. 4550. Aust.

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