LEBANON, Conn. -- A Hartford arts organization is boycotting a billboard company after it refused to run an ad featuring same-sex couples holding hands.

Real Art Ways is running a show that features works by 31 contemporary polish artists. Among the works are photographs by 27-year-old Karolina Bregula.

Lamar Advertising refused to run photographs by Bregula that show same-sex couples holding hands. The billboards were to be a public-art aspect to the exhibition that is currently running at the organization.

The company offered Real Art Ways the option of running images by another artist, but the gallery declined in protest. The gallery said it wants to protect the rights of artists to express themselves without fear of censorship or interference.

Will Wilkins of Real Art Ways said that the billboards caused no problem when used in Poland.

A representative of Lamar Advertising told Eyewitness News that the company felt the billboards, which would have been donated to Real Art Ways, would draw graffiti.

The program at Real Art Ways will run through the end of January and includes the exhibition, films, performances and artists' discussions.

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