Date: Tue, 17 Sep 1996 11:00:55 -0700
From: glaad@glaad.org (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation)
Subject: LOS ANGELES RADIO STATION BROADCASTS ANTI-GAY EPITHETS	KLSX-FM VOWS TO CONTINUE
 ON-AIR SLURS

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Alan Klein (212) 807-1700
Pager:  (800) 601-5483 (please include area code)
Email:  klein@glaad.org




LOS ANGELES RADIO STATION BROADCASTS
ANTI-GAY EPITHETS
KLSX-FM VOWS TO CONTINUE ON-AIR SLURS

LOS ANGELES, SEPTEMBER 17, 1996-The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) blasted Los Angeles talk radio station KLSX-FM (Real
Radio 97.1) today for its repeated use of anti-gay epithets.  GLAAD also
denounced the radio station's threat to continue broadcasting the
defamatory slurs.

In a strongly-worded letter sent to KLSX-FM on September 6, GLAAD alerted
the station's general manager, Bob Moore, to two recent anti-gay incidents
that occurred during "The Regular Guys," an early afternoon call-in show
with Larry Wachs and Eric Haessler.  On August 8, following a heated on-air
exchange, Wachs and Haessler yelled, "kiss my ass, you faggot!" at a
caller.  Four days later, on August 12, they described people that might
choose a particular fashion look, saying, "they are junkies, they are
fags."

"The word 'faggot' is a hateful and bigoted slur that is meant to hurt and
insult gay men," said John Henning, Chair of GLAAD's Los Angeles Monitoring
& Response Committee. "We cannot understand why KLSX-FM proudly broadcasts
words that gaybashers use to perpetuate fear, intolerance and anti-gay and
-lesbian violence. It is precisely this brand of irresponsible radio that
puts the lives of gay men and lesbians in jeopardy."

On September 16, a GLAAD representative was invited on "The Regular Guys"
show to discuss GLAAD's letter to the station. Wachs used the opportunity
to boast, "I understand fully well what ['fag' and 'faggot'] means. I know
full well, and that's why I use them.  I got news for you, I will continue
to use words as I feel necessary."

"There are other racial and ethnic slurs that you can bet no radio station
would want to broadcast," said Henning.  "It's about time KLSX-FM's
management educates its staff, and these schlock-jocks in particular, that
anti-gay slurs are just as unacceptable."

GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay news bureau and the only national
lesbian and gay media watchdog organization. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate,
and inclusive representation as a means of challenging discrimination based
on sexual orientation or identity.



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challenging discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity.
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