TOO HOT FOR TV?

June 2000
		Does radio host "Dr. Laura" Schlessinger propagate hate? Should she be able to take her views to television? Keven Bellows, vice president and general manager of Premiere Radio Networks, Lucy Dalglish, executive director of the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press, and Joan Garry, executive director of GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, respond to your questions.

Forum introduction Shouldn't the audience decide whether or not the show will succeed? How can Jerry Springer's TV show exist while Dr. Laura's elicits such controversy? Are gay rights groups stepping on rights of religious expression? What about defending freedom of speech? Would similar views on other groups be tolerated? Can there be a meaningful debate on such moral issues?     June 15, 2000: Debating Dr. Laura. July 26, 1999: A look at diversity in television programs. Online Forum: Experts answer viewer questions about diversity on television. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of media issues.     Dr. Laura Schlessinger GLAAD TomPaine.com StopDrLaura.com

Paul Kelley of San Francisco, CA asks: If Laura changed the word homosexual to African American when she talks about us, would she still be considered for a TV show?   Keven Bellows responds: First of all, Dr. Laura has never said anything derogatory about homosexuals. She has simply stated a fact that homosexuality deviates from the norm of heterosexuality, thus, the biology of homosexuals is in "error". This is no way reflects on the individual human being anymore than having blue eyes does. So the argument is specious, to say nothing of viscious.   Lucy Dalglish responds: I have no idea. She would have to find a producer for her show willing to deal with the consequences of such statements.   Joan Garry responds: Media outlets do not generally permit language that paints ethnic or racial minorities as second-class citizens. Yet many of these same outlets don't understand that defamatory language against lesbians and gay men is equally offensive and dangerous. Clearly, there is a double standard at work here. Overt bigotry against people of color is now universally condemned, although it took many years of cultural education by dedicated activists to evolve the sensibilities of the American public. Unfortunately, bigotry against the lesbian and gay community is commonly viewed as the last acceptable prejudice. It is often justified through history ("It's always been that way"), religion ("It says so in the Bible") and flawed science ("It is a biological error") - the same tools that have been used in the past to justify discrimination against other groups. While we do not equate ourselves to the struggles of any racial group, we do share the same commitment to equality. At GLAAD, our fundamental belief is that that media words and images have a profound impact on shaping how the gay and lesbian community is perceived. We are dedicated to holding media outlets accountable for presenting fair, accurate and inclusive images of our community. Schlessinger's commentaries are anything but fair, accurate and inclusive.