The Daily Update

Protest Paramount
- March 21, 2000

Read our Press Release

News from StopDrLaura.com

StopDrLaura.com in the News

• Norman Solomon takes Dr. Laura to task.
• Bill Berkowitz says Dr. Laura has become an apostle of the Religious Right.
• Read Dr.Laura's own comments on AIDS, sex, and discrimination.
• Washington Post, "Where homophobia does the most harm," March 1, 2000
• Horizons Foundation Sign-on Letter to Dr. Laura
• Horizons Foundation Ad Campaign Against Dr. Laura
• GLAAD transcripts of Dr. Laura's Anti-gay Broadcasts
• "Sen. Bradley Criticizes Dr. Laura," GAYBC.com (scroll down the page)
• "'Frasier' Producer Opposes Dr. Laura," GAYBC.com (scroll down the page)

CHICAGO ACTIVISTS JOIN NATIONAL MOVEMENT
TO STOP "DR." LAURA
Chicago Protest Announced for April 15

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 4/2/00
For information: Andy Thayer, 773.878.4781

Chicago activists working in conjunction with the StopDrLaura.com website formed an ad hoc group last Wednesday night, the Stop Dr. Laura Coalition, with the aim of halting WBBM-TV Channel 2's plans to air the notorious talk show bigot. The Coalition is spearheading local opposition to Laura Schlessinger by organizing a 3 p.m., Saturday, April 15 picket of the station at 633 N. McClurg Court, Chicago to protest their plan to air her show.

Calling LGBT people "biological errors," pedophiles and "deviant," Dr. Laura Schlessinger stridently opposes gay marriage, our right to adopt children, and counsels parents to isolate their kids from LGBT people. A Coalition letter to other organizations outlined the danger Schlessinger represents: LGBT people "should need little reminder about the potential price of broadcasting this hate under the sanction of being a 'doctor'--increased gay-bashing, teen suicides, an organizing tool for denying us any number of civil rights, etc."

The Stop Dr. Laura Coalition notes that one of the gains of the Civil Rights Movement is that no broadcaster today would seriously entertain giving a national TV program to a host who called people of color "biological errors." Yet Channel 2 has decided to profit off of bigotry by slotting Schlessinger into their fall line-up.

Following the Jerry Springer newscast debacle on Channel 5, Channel 2 made a much-hyped commitment toward broadcasting integrity with its hiring of Carol Marin. Unfortunately, the Schlessinger episode shows once again just how adept broadcast managers are at putting profits before principle.

Activists from the Coalition, including members of the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, the Chicago Lesbian Avengers, the Autonomous Zone, SANGAT/Chicago, and Wicker Park Anti-Racist Action call on all who oppose hate to not only attend the April 15th picket of Channel 2, but to also to telephone the station to protest--Jim Berman, Programming Director, 312.951-3575, and Frank Price, General Manager, 312.951.3852. The Coalition has already sent a letter to Price citing examples of Schlessinger's bigotry and demanding that the show be dropped.

The Coalition notes that with the nation's #1 listenership for her syndicated radio program, Schlessinger is helping galvanize the forces of hate in a way not seen since Anita Bryant. But with the impending danger of a national TV hate broadcast also comes the opportunity for LGBT people and our allies to push back bigotry by cancelling the show, and thus improve the social climate for all of us.

For local information on Stop Dr. Laura activities call (773) 878-4781 or e-mail thayer1917@aol.com. For more information on national efforts to stop Dr. Laura, visit StopDrLaura.com, the web site with over 12 million hits to date.

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