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Description:  Email rumor
Status:  Misleading
Circulating since:  Aug. 2000
Analysis:  See below
archive of legends & netlore
John Hancock Gay/Lesbian Commercial

Email text contributed by Dan L., 08/28/00:

Hi Friends!
Very important! John Hancock, the insurance company, has done a very courageous thing. They put together a series of commercials to be shown during the Olympics. They are pretty non-traditional and one of them shows 2 women at the airport where they are just bringing home their newly adopted Asian baby. They are so loving and it so sweet you can't help but cry. They congratulate each other on what great moms they'll be, etc. It is clear they are a couple and this is a lesbian adoption.

They aired this commercial during the gymnastics trials last week and the right wing went nuts and bombarded John Hancock Co. with nasty phone calls. There is a strong chance Hancock will pull this commercial and it will never be seen during the Olympics if they don't hear some (LOTS!) positive responses as well.

Please email them and have everyone you know do the same. Four TV stations said they wouldn't show it and Hancock stood up to them saying they wanted it in writing why they refused. They then all agreed to show it! Hancock is kickin' butt for our community!

Here are the email directions: Go to: jhancock.com then click on "how to reach us" & the left menu bar where it says, "website feedback." Tell them you saw the "2 women & baby commercial" and then praise it, praise them, and please continue to air it.

Thank you. Pass it on. When you see it air, you'll be sooooo Happy!

Comments:  If the point of this message is to drum up support for the commercial from gays and pro-gay activists, it's a bit too late. According to news reports, the lesbian-themed John Hancock ad – which does exist and was broadcast during the U.S. Gymnastics Championships in July 2000 – has already been re-edited to tone down its gay content for showing during the Olympics.

Despite allegations in the email, there's no evidence to indicate that John Hancock is considering eliminating the commercial altogether. You can expect to see it, albeit in bowdlerized form, during NBC's upcoming Olympics coverage.

Sources:

John Hancock Latest Company to Target Gay, Lesbian Market
September 10, 2000 from the Chicago Tribune

Hancock Re-Edits Ad for Olympics
September 13, 2000 from the Boston Globe

John Hancock Promotes Lesbian 'Family' in Ad
September 21, 2000 Action Alert from the American Family Association

NBC Sells $900 Million in Olympic Ad Spots
September 8, 2000 from Reuters


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