Date: Thu, 10 Apr 97 17:04:56 EST From: "NGLTF" Subject: Affiliate Closes Ellen's Closet Door ********************************************************************* National Gay and Lesbian Task Force PRESS RELEASE Contact: Mark Johnson 202/332-6483 ext. 3314 mfjohnson@ngltf.org Pager 800/757-6476 2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 http://www.ngltf.org ngltf@ngltf.org ********************************************************************* ABC AFFILIATE TO SEAL ELLEN'S CLOSET DOOR ALABAMA STATION PULLS THE PLUG ON THE 'COMING OUT' EPISODE Washington, DC---April 10, 1997----An ABC affiliate in Birmingham, Alabama, according to press reports, will not be airing the April 30 episode of Ellen, the hit TV comedy because the show's main character, Ellen Morgan, will come out as a lesbian. It was reported that officials at WBMA, also known as Alabama's 33/40, announced the decision late yesterday. The station reaches approximately half of the state's population. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, (NGLTF) immediately announced its outrage at the reported decision. This is the first and only station known to cancel the airing of this Ellen episode, according to ABC. Officials at the Birmingham station claim the episode is not appropriate "family viewing." However, activists in the gay community see their decision to drop the episode as a form of censorship. "The station should not try to dictate to Alabama viewers what is appropriate to watch," stated NGLTF executive director Kerry Lobel, "especially when all the other affiliates apparently are airing the program." The Alabama lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community is angered at the station's actions and have called station officials for a meeting. "This is a black eye for Birmingham. The people of Alabama are fully capable of making their own decision about whether or not to tune into this episode," stated David White of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Alabama. Thousands of gay and lesbian people live, breathe, eat and work in Alabama. Taking an episode of Ellen off the air doesn't change that fact," added White. "At first it was a few advertisers backing away from the episode because of their apparent skittishness about the shows content," noted Mark F. Johnson, NGLTF Media Director. "Now, it looks like one station is making a single-handed effort to seal the closet door." All the controversy surrounding the program makes it that much more appealing to curious viewers, Johnson observed. "This controversy reminds me of the hoopla that accompanied the broadcast of the "lesbian kiss" of Roseanne," Johnson noted. "That show continues to be very successful all over the country," he pointed out. The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Alabama is requesting a meeting with station officials in an attempt to change the decision. "We hope this decision was based on ignorance, not malice and that station officials will realize their mistake," said White. "We will not condone censorship and intolerance," he added. To reach David White call 205-985-5609. To contact the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Alabama, call 205-425-2286. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the oldest national gay and lesbian group and is a progressive organization that has supported grassroots organizing and pioneered in national advocacy since 1973. Since its inception, NGLTF has been at the forefront of virtually every major initiative for lesbian and gay rights. In all its efforts, NGLTF helps to strengthen the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender movement at the state level while connecting these activities to a national vision for change. -30- _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have any questions regarding this post, please direct them to one of the contacts at the top of this message If you wish to UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, please send an email with "UNSUBSCRIBE PRESSLIST" in the subject and body of your email message to .