Date: Mon, 18 May 1998 13:49:16 -0700 Subject: ===LAMBDA MIDWEST NEWS & VIEWS=== KCPT and Public TV on In The Life From: lambdamidwest@juno.com (Lambda Midwest) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE!!! BOYCOTT PUBLIC TELEVISION ON "IN THE LIFE" ISSUE Lambda Midwest Email List P.O. Box 45357 Kansas City, MO 64171 (816) 931-6829 Voice/Fax LambdaMidwest@juno.com http://www.geocities.com/WestHollywood/Stonewall/2178/index.html Dear Lambda Midwest Friends, I am forwarding an email about KCPT (Kansas City Public Television Channel 19 on UHF) and their response to an acquaintance's concern about their lack of broadcasting for "In the Life", a news program that does air on KTWU, Ch. 11 in Topeka, Kansas. The reason that I was told on the telephone that it does not air in Kansas City, Missouri is that it is an irregular broadcast via satellite and they choose not to air it because of that. I disagree. I told the woman at KCPT that they air many irregular programs that are broadcast. I think they don't air it due to the controversial nature of the program. Has anyone else seen "In the Life"? It is a gay/lesbian news program out of New York. The last time I saw it on KCPT was in 1993. 5 years later, it is still running and KCPT is not airing it. Yet, they win an award. Why? I don't know. I would not give them an award for gay/lesbian programming. I think they have failed in that area. This is my opinion, but I think there are other viewers of Public Television who should boycott donations to this station and let them know how we feel. If your station is not airing "In the Life", I think you should let them know your feelings. The web site for KCPT is: http://www.kcpt.org and the web site for PBS is: http://www.pbs.org Check out the PBS site if you want to know where your closest public tv station is. I urge people to write: KCPT, 125 E. 31st, Kansas City, MO 64108 Telephone: (816) 756-3580 Fax: (816) 931-2500 Email: Twyla_Lozano@kcpt.org , Bill_Reed@kcpt.org, David_Welsh@kcpt.org, Katherine_DeBruce@kcpt.org, Cynthia_Smith@kcpt.org I further encourage Lambda Midwest readers and the queer (gay/les/bi/trans and friends) community to boycott KCPT until they air "In the Life" and boycott other Public Television Stations all over the United States and let them know we will not donate nor watch their station until they air "In the Life"!!! Furthermore, I believe that GLAAD-KC was seriously misled in giving this award. People have a short memory when it comes to this issue. "In the Life" was fighting to stay on the air and many public television stations refused to air it. I think GLAAD also forgot about this when they gave the award. While I shouldn't be critical of GLAAD, I think they don't get all of the facts when they make an award and this is one fact they missed. Oh and some are going to say to me, you only find the flaws in the issue and not what they do good for the community and I say to you, this is a major issue, not a minor one. Not airing "In the Life" is a major, major issue. And when it's aired they always aired it at 10 or 11 p.m. at night to avoid tainting the sights and ears of the listening and viewing audiences. If you research this issue, you will find out that the boycott of "In the Life" and its void on the air waves is due to censorship by Public Television stations across the United States. If you don't believe me, do a search on the Queer Resource Directory, the archives online of issues, facts, and archives on the gay/les/bi/trans community. http://www.qrd.org/QRD/ Followup to this issue would be greatly appreciated. Post followup to this ACTION ALERT TO THIS LIST!!! or send them to LambdaMidwest@juno.com and I will post them. In the Spirit of Pride, Rodney Allen Bell, II Lambda Midwest List Creator and Co-Owner From: compaqlemons@juno.com (Compaq Lemons) To: LambdaMidwest@juno.com Subject: Re: WWW Form Submission Date: Wed, 13 May 1998 03:10:15 CDT --------- Begin forwarded message ---------- From: Twyla_Lozano@kcpt.org (Twyla Lozano) To: compaqlemons@juno.com Cc: Bill_Reed@kcpt.org, David_Welsh@kcpt.org, Katherine_DeBruce@kcpt.org,Cynthia_Smith@kcpt.org Subject: Re: WWW Form Submission Date: 12 May 1998 15:14:31 GMT compaqlemons@juno.com,uucp writes: I am very unhappy that KCPT chooses not to air In the Life. Your programming does not support the gay/lesbian community. I will be campaigning to withdraw support for your network by the gay/lesbian community until you air In the Life and other programs for our community. Randall Barron P.O. Box 45357 Kansas City, MO Hello, Mr. Barron... Thank you for taking the time to contact KCPT and providing the opportunity for an information exchange. At this point in time, IN THE LIFE is not a part of our broadcast schedule, nor are any regular programs strictly geared to Black Americans, Native Americans, or any other specific religious/cultural group. But we have and do air segments in programs, mini-series and specials that deal with these issues and present them in a non-biased, informative format. It seems you may have missed the other programs on gay/lesbian issues KCPT has provided to the Kansas City viewing area. Programs such as: COMING OUT UNDER FIRE (dealing with gays/lesbians in the military both past and present) NOT IN OUR TOWN: CITIZENS RESPOND TO HATE A QUESTION OF EQUALITY (a 4-part series on the evolution of the gay rights movement) MASTERPIECE THEATRE's "Breaking the Code" (Based on the play "Alan Turing: The Enigma" by Andrew Hodges, this program told the story of the mathematical genius who was responsible for designing the computer that enabled the Allies to crack the German Enigma code and, some would argue, win the war. Mr. Turning was an active homosexual in a time when homosexuality was illegal.) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: FACES OF FEAR (one of the segments in this program dealt with domestic violence in the gay/lesbian community). TALES OF THE CITY POSITIVE: LIFE WITH HIV along with several episodes of THE CHARLIE ROSE SHOW and THE NEWSHOUR, not to mention the recent episodes of RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY which currently airs Sundays at 2:00 PM that dealt with the religious rights of the gay/lesbian community (March 7 & 14). At KCPT, we strive to present programs that are balanced, informative and that represent as much of a cross-section of the people and cultures of America as possible. In recognition of these efforts, our general manager was the recipient of the 1997 Leadership Award from the Kansas City chapter of GLAAD. We appreciate your time and the opportunity you have given us to provide this additional information (if you would like, I could put you on my "Call-back List" to notify you of upcoming special programs on these issues; just let me know the best way to reach you). Please feel free to share this information with others and we hope you will not hesitate to contact us any time you have a question or comment. Twyla Lozano KCPT Audience Services _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]