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Anti-Gay
AFA
Turns
Sights On NBC
by Ed
Welch, 365Gay.com Los Angeles Bureau
from the
Web, December 27, 2005
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Los Angeles, California -- The
American Family Association is urging its members to flood NBC with letters
denouncing the network's new series "The Book of Daniel" which will feature
primetime's only openly gay male characters.
The series is planned to debut January 6 at 9:00 pm E/P time.
"The Book of Daniel" stars Aidan Quinn (“An Early Frost”) as the Reverend Daniel
Webster (pictured) an unconventional Episcopalian minister who not only believes
in Jesus -- he actually sees him and discusses life with him.
His children include Peter (Christian Campbell, “Trick”), a 23-year-old gay son,
who struggles with the loss of his twin brother. To confound matters even
more, Peter is a Republican.
Webster's daughter, Grace (Alison Pill, “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen”),
is 16-year-old daughter who just happens to be a drug dealer. Then there's
the 16-year-old adopted son who is having sex with the bishop's daughter, and
Webster's wife who is "addicted to martinis".
Webster's secretary is a lesbian who is sleeping with his sister-in-law.
The character is only one of a handful of lesbian characters on TV this season.
Further angering the AFA is Jack Kenny, the show's writer, who also is openly
gay.
The group is urging its members to write to NBC Chairman Bob Wright to voice
their disapproval. A sample letter that the AFA has posted on its Web site
warns Wright that the organization may target the show's advertisers.
The AFA has a long history of boycotts and threats against companies that are
perceived as gay friendly.
Earlier this month it got Ford Motor Corp. to pull its advertising from the LGBT
media. Following outrage from the gay community, and a hastily arranged
meeting with the leaders of 19 LGBT rights groups in Washington, the company
issued a statement claiming it had been misunderstood and the ads would not be
cancelled.
The AFA boycotted Proctor and Gamble last year after the Cincinnati-based P&G
supported the repeal of an anti-gay law in that city.
In April AFA declared victory over Proctor & Gamble after the company ended most
of its advertising in the gay media. The group claimed that more than
300,000 people had signed pledges not to buy P&G products.
The effect on P&G is believed to be one of the major reasons Microsoft decided
to withdraw its support of a gay rights bill in the state of Washington
following a meeting with a conservative Christian leader. Following
outrage from the company's gay workers and LGBT rights groups in Washington the
company reversed course again and announced it would support gay rights measures
in the future.
In May, the AFA took aim at Kraft Foods -- stopping just short of calling for a
full boycott -- for sponsoring the 2006 Gay Games in Chicago. Kraft has
not budged in its support for the games.
Earlier this year the AFA ended a nine year boycott of Disney called over Gay
Days at the company's theme park in Orlando, Florida. Most people in the
industry said the boycott had a negligible effect on Disney.
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