The following letter, written by myself, has been sent to major
gay publications in the United States and Canada:

  
  
					14 Janaury 1994
					Friday
  
	
Dear Editors,
  
	Though I am currently not affiliated with it, as the founder
of the Gaylactic Network (an association of science fiction 
orgainzations for gay people and their friends) I have some good news
for your readers.

	In late January 1994, a new science fiction television series
will begin named BABYLON 5.  Set in the year 2258 on a United Nations-
like space station, the series hold great promise for being a well-
written and well-done dramatic series.  The TV movie on which the
series is based, which first aired in early 1993, has already won
an Emmy Award.

	What is of special interest to us is J. Michael Straczynski,
BABYLON 5's creator and producer, has publicly stated several times
the series will include a regularly-appearing gay or bisexual
character.  On a message sent on the computer network USENET, Mr.
Straczynski wrote:

	We have no intention of avoiding the gay question.  We
	will not, however, do a "gay story", which is usually
	described by those friends and acquantances of mine in
	derogatory terms...a la, "fags are people too."  The
	sense I get is that they resent the hell out of that
	approach.  The one suggestion that comes most often is,
	"Why not simply introduce a character, we get to know that
	character over the run of a season, and at some point
	discover, practially in passing, that this person is bi
	or gay...*don't* make a big issue out of it, just show it."
	And that's what we're going to do.

	Unlike STAR TREK which in over 27 years, 3 television series,
and 6 motion pictures has yet to show even a single gay character,
despite repeated requests by many fans, including many of us, BABYLON 5
already has promised to boldly go where no science fiction series has
gone before.
  
	I would urge your readers to watch BABYLON 5 and to support
Mr. Straczynski's decision to show that gay and bisexual people are
also part of humanity's future.  You may write to him at:

	J. Michael Straczynski
	1442 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 260
	Sherman Oaks, California  91423  USA

	BABYLON 5 may be a giant leap forward for gay characters in
science fiction.  Hopefully there will be many others.

	
					Yours,

					Franklin Hummel
					Boston, Massachsuetts

= = = = =

	Several additional comments:

	As mentioned aboved, while I am the founder of the Gaylactic
Network and served as its director for over 5 years, I am no longed
involved in the organization.  If you are interested in learning more
about gay science fiction fandom and the Gaylactic Network (which is
composed of 15 local "Gaylaxian" groups plus 1 international one),
please, do - * not * - write me.  Instead, please write to:

	Gaylactic Network
	P.O. Box 127
	Brookline, Massachusetts  02149  USA

	Next, with regards to STAR TREK, in 1991 when I was still
serving as the Gaylactic Network's director and after years of
behind-the-scenes requests which were ignored, I began a letter-
writing campaign to have gay characters appear in STAR TREK.  The
effort received international attention and resulted in the STAR
TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION episode "The Outcast".  However, that
episode, while dealing with the "issue of sexual preference", failed
to show even a single gay character and failed to even mention the
words "gay" or "homosexual".  This remains something STAR TREK has yet
to do.

	Finally, my reason for this letter is simply this: after
STAR TREK's disappointing response, I thought it important for
gay people to know that there are still those in television and
in science fiction who think that we, as gay people, will be part
of the future.  In my opinion, I think BABYLON 5 and Mr. Straczynski
deserve our praise and our support for their decision to show this.

	In other words, I hope you will watch BABYLON 5.


 -- Frank Hummel  [ Internet: hummel@athena.mit.edu - GEnie: F.HUMMEL ]