GLAAD/SFBA MEDIA WATCH April 15,1994 NO MORE TALES The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has decided not to fund the sequel to TALES OF THE CITY, one of the highest-rated programs eer distributed by the network. PBS executives claim that the sequel -- MORE TALES OF THE CITY -- would not provide programming that is "new, different, controversial and interesting." This plea for "new" and "different" comes from a network that has provided years of WALL STREET WEEK, but has yet to support such national lesbian/gay programming as IN THE LIFE. In an independent survey published last year, researchers examined 114 episodes of PBS public affairs programs and could not find a single lesbian or gay representative. Unfortunately, viewers might be in for further cutbacks of lesbian and gay programming. Confidential information obtained from PBS sources indicates that new PBS president (and former George Bush lackey) Ervin Duggan will continue the retreat from truly diverse, multi-cultural programming. According to GLAAD's source, Duggan feels that PBS should not broadcast programs that "Americans find distasteful" -- specifically programs that deal with lesbian/gay themes or abortion. Duggan's position is not only distasteful, it's criminal. After all, the mission of PBS -- as mandated by Congress -- is to "help us see America whole, in all its diversity" and to "provide a voice for groups in the community that may otherwise be unheard." Contact Ervin Duggan, President, PBS, 1320 Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22314, tel. 703-739-5000 or tel. 800-356-2626. Richard Carlson, President and CEO, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 901 E St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20004. UNDEREXPOSURE On May 2nd, CBS's NORTHERN EXPOSURE will once again explore lesbian/gay themes. This time, the series will feature the marriage of Ron and Erick (who play the town's gay innkeepers). While CBS has been generally supportive of the program, the network refuses to portray a kiss between the two characters as they wed. Executive Producer Andrew Schindler has acknowledged that a man and woman would surely be shown kissing in the same dramatic situation, but -- he rationalizes -- the show's producers are tyring to "unload a loaded issue." Send your letter -- sealed with a kiss -- to Jeff Sagansky, CBS Entertainment, 7800 Beverly Blvd., LA, CA 90036, tel. 213-852-2345. OUT IN THE HILLS On the April 6th episode of BEVERLY HILLS, 90210, Brandon and Steve accidentally discover Steve's fraternity president, Mike Ryan, hanging "out" at a gay coffee house. The young Beverly Hillbillies struggle over whether or not they should keep Mike's secret. Later, when Steve is taunted by a homophobic frat brother, he outs Mike to deflect the heat. Soon Mike finds his door painted pink and his "brothers" wanting him out of their ranks. Over the course of the show, Steve comes to see the destructive power of bigotry. At a special house meeting, the homophobe argues: "What kind of pledges are we going to attract? Who's going to show up to join a gay fraternity?" With Steve encouragement, Mike speaks out, recalling "the first African American pledge who dared to challenge this fraternity's color line...the first Hispanic brother, the first Jewish brother and the first Asian American brother." Steve also stands up for Mike, stating: "This is about brotherhood and loyalty. If that is just lip service and a secret handshake to you all, then this fraternity and everything it stands for is a joke." In the end, all the brothers express support for their now openly gay president, and the homophobe leaves in a huff. Send feedback to Lucie Salhany, President, Fox Broadcasting, P.O. Box 900, Beverly Hills, CA 90213, tel. 310-277-2211. MEDIA BRIEFS "Women's Wire" is an online serive established to serve the information, communication and networking needs of women. For details, contact Women's Wire, 435 Grand Ave., ste. D, South San Francisco, CA 94080, tel. 415-615-8989, fax 415-615-8990. Tuesday, May 3rd is the date for the ACLU's third annual "Speak Up" First Amendment conference for high school students; "Violence in School and in the Media" and "Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual Rights" are among the scheduled presentaiton. For information, call 415-621-2006, ext. 52. Founded on the premise that "the future belongs to those who have access to technology," VX International is a not-for-profit group dedicated to the empowerment of the queer community; VX has established an online information system, "The Virtual Exchange." Contact VX International, Inc., P.O. Box 918, Cabal Street Station, New York, NY 10013, tel./fax, 212-267-5084. WE MUST CONFRONT HOMOPHOBIA IN ORDER TO CURE IT! TO NOTIFY THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION OF ANY DEFAMATORY MEDIA COVERAGE, OR TO REQUEST MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GLAAD, CONTACT GLAAD/SFBA, 514 CASTRO STREET, SUITE B, SF, CA 94114, TEL. 415-861-4588, FAX 415-861-4893, E-MAIL BONNIE@OUTRIGHT.COM.