Monday, September 11, 2000
'Dr. Laura' TV show sparks protest
By Jennifer Mrozowski
The Cincinnati Enquirer
About two dozen people picketed WCPO-TV (Channel 9) studios in Cincinnati Sunday to protest today's television debut of the Dr. Laura show.
Local members of national coalition StopDrLaura.com organized the protest in an attempt to deter the broadcast of the latest venture of controversial radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger.
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ON THE AIR
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The Dr. Laura television show debuts today and will air weekdays at 10 a.m. on WCPO-TV (Channel 9). Today's topic is “Teens & Drugs: What To Do?” The radio show airs weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon on WKRC-AM (550).
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Her show airs at 10 a.m. on Channel 9 and will be carried on 174 other stations nationwide.
Protests were scheduled Sunday from Baltimore to Los Angeles, and Montreal to Orlando, Fla., according to StopDrLaura.com's Web site. This is the second protest the Cincinnati group has held in front of Channel 9.
Joshua Gaunt, the coalition's Cincinnati coordinator, said the group takes offense at statements Ms. Schlessinger has made on her radio program, such as calling gays and lesbians a “biological error.”
“We feel like she must be stopped,” Mr. Gaunt said.
Ms. Schlessinger could not be reached for comment Sunday.
But she told Time magazine in June that efforts by gays and lesbians to have her TV show axed have taken their toll: “I've cried more at times than I would like to admit.”
She has not been asked to tone down her approach for TV, she said.
Ms. Schlessinger's radio show — aired locally on WKRC-AM (550) — attracts more than 18 million listeners nationally. Her books have landed on the best-seller list, and there's even a Dr. Laura board game.
WCPO-TV's vice president and general manager Bill Fee said he thinks that popularity will continue with the Dr. Laura TV show, and he has no plans to drop it.
“I think the controversy will die down when people see she has a mainstream talk show,” he said.
But Mr. Gaunt said he is concerned that listeners assume Ms. Schlessinger is a psychologist or psychiatrist. She doesn't have a degree in either of those fields.
Ms. Schlessinger earned a doc toral degree in physiology from Columbia University, according to her Web site. She also holds postdoctoral certification and licensing in marriage and family therapy, and has taught at the University of Southern California and at Pepperdine University.
But whether she's hated or loved, there's no denying that Ms. Schlessinger has the nation's ear for what she bills as a straightforward approach to discussing traditional issues.
Her radio show topics include the oversexualization of children, mandatory drug testing, divorce, adultery, home schooling and adoption.
Mr. Fee said the station would not air the show if Ms. Schlessinger planned on bashing gays or any other group. To ensure that, WCPO-TV is creating an advisory panel that will monitor all of the station's shows, including Ms. Schlessinger's new program, Mr. Fee said.
Stonewall Cincinnati, a human-rights organization for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, has been asked to serve on that advisory board, as have the city's police and fire chiefs, the superintendent of schools and others.
Mr. Fee also is working with Stonewall to produce a public service announcement on the gay, lesbian and bisexual community. The focus has not been determined, he said.
“We're not going to cancel the show, but I'm willing to talk to them,” he said.
But protesters weren't talking Sunday.
They were shouting, “Stop Dr. Laura. Now.” and holding signs that read, “Channel 9 sponsors hate” and “Equal treatment for everybody.”
“There's already enough hate,” said protester Greg Jacobs, 22, of Price Hill. “For someone to publicize it just brings it to more people.”
Richard Busemeyer, 76, a father of 10, said he came to protest because he thinks Ms. Schlessinger's views promote hatred, violence and discrimination against gays.
Others think she's just a good entertainer.
“I think she's great,” said Cincinnati resident John Rapach, who was downtown Sunday to see the Bengals game. “She speaks her mind.”
Peg Rapach said she likes Ms. Schlessinger's views on personal responsibility but not on homosexuality.
Then Ms. Schlessinger sparked a debate without uttering a word in Cincinnati on Sunday. The Rapachs walked down Elm Street disagreeing about whether the radio-host-turned-TV-host is rude or just straightforward.
Today at 10 a.m., they can tune in and settle the matter.
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