Fun_People Archive
14 Nov
"Well, okay, but we never used the word 'threat'."

Date: Tue, 14 Nov 95 01:22:34 -0800
From: Peter Langston <psl>
To: Fun_People
Subject: "Well, okay, but we never used the word 'threat'."

Forwarded-by: bostic@bsdi.com (Keith Bostic)
Forwarded-by: dfitzpat@interserv.com

Two controversial ads against gay-bashing produced by Washington-based
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and featuring
footage of the Rev. Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and Sen. Jesse Helms making
anti-gay statements have had trouble finding their way onto television. In
one of the spots, a 15-year-old "all American girl" searches for a gun in
her parents' bedroom while listening to the voices of the three men
condemning homosexuality.  The spot ends as the girl, slumped on the floor,
sobs against the gun--clearly contemplating suicide. The planned three-week
campaign, part of PFLAG's Project Open Mind, has grabbed the interest of
only a few cable systems and most of those are unwilling to run the suicide
spot.  According to Project Open Mind campaign manager Jeffrey Garrett, only
CNN's "Larry King Live," and WTTG/Channel 5 (Washington, DC) have agreed to
air it.  A spokesman for CNN said last week, however, that after legal
review "at a higher level in the company" the network had to turn down the
ad.  At WTTG, the ad will be shown 13 times over the next three weeks with
a "dramatization"  warning at the beginning.

According to Garrett, interest in the ads as well as the Open Mind Project
has been impeded by threats from Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network.
"We have made no threats," said Gene Kapp, vice president of public
relations at the network.  "But we have contacted the (interested) stations
and explained the legal problems that might be involved.  The commercials
are under review by our legal department.  The transcript shows a gross
distortion of Mr. Robertson's words.  Any attempt to link Mr. Robertson to
violence is absurd, he has repeatedly condemned violence against all groups,
including gays and lesbians and he has done so often on his 700 Club
broadcasts."  Kapp added that some of the clips used in the spot were taken
directly from Robertson's broadcasts, which are legally subject to copyright
law.  (Washington Post)

© 1995 Peter Langston