PAGEl8Q-Notes T July 1992
BOURBON STREET
MR. EAST COAST,
USA 1992 Contest
featuring Special Guests:
Tony DiAngelo
Mr. Gay USA 1992
Phillip McAdoo
Mr. East Coast, USA 1991
Call Steve West at the
club for more Information.
“A direct preliminary to Mr. Gay USA.”
Bourbon Street
916 Burke St.
Winston-Salem
(919) 724-4644
GLAAD Notes
Compiled by Gay & Lesbian Alliance
Against Defamation
No support for nontraditional TV
Texaco, the long-time corporate underwriter
for PBS’s Great Performances arts series,
ended its support as of June 10th. The Lost
Language of Cranes, a BBCAVNET adapta
tion of David Leavitt’ s novel about the paral
lel coming out of a gay father and son, was
screened by company officials prior to their
announcement. Cranes aired June 24th on
Great Performances.
Texaco denies charges by Out in Film, an
association of lesbian and gay film profes
sionals, that it acted to avoid supporting an
explicitly gay-themed drama. The oil giant
says its move was based on “a review of both
the current and future direction of the series,”
that found it moving away from “traditional
and classical works.”
Earlier this season Great Performances
broadcast “Bill T. Jones/Amie Zane and Com
pany,” which included homoerotic dance
scenes and a moving interview with choreog
rapher Jones about the AlDS-related death of
his lover and “one true companion,” Amie
Zane.
The suddenness of Texaco’s announce
ment and the fact that Great Performances
has aired contemporary dramas in the past
lends credence to Out in Film’s charges.
Express your displeasure to Texaco and en
courage the company to support program
ming that deals with gay themes and issues on
PBS and on the commercial networks.
Gays buy gas, too! Write James W.
Kinnear, President & CEO, Texaco, Inc.,
2000 Westchester Ave., White Plains, NY
10650.
Also, praise Great Performances for its
inclusion of gay-themed works. Write Jac
Venza, Executive Producer, Great Perfor
mances, WNET, 356 W. 58th St. New York,
NY 10019.
Murphy Brown: Progress & Backlash
An openly-gay character named Rick joined
the staff at “FYI” (the series’ fictional news
program). The show sensitively provided in
sight into heterosexual angst (Murphy’s
straight boss. Miles, became worried after he
dreamt about Rick) while slamming false
stereotypes about gay men.
In real life, gay staff on shows such as
“FYI” are increasingly open about who they
are. Unfortunately, Rick only appeared once
this season. Ask that Rick and other gay and
lesbian characters be included as regulars by
writing Diane English and Joel Shukovsky,
Executive Producers, Murphy Brown, 4000
Warner B1 vd., Burbank, CA 91522. Copies to
Jeff Sagansky,President, CBS Entertainment,
7800 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036.
Flash: In April the American Family As
sociation targeted Murphy Brown’s biggest
advertisers for “promoting homosexuality”
on TV (and both received hundreds of com
plaints). To counter anti-gay censorship, ask
for further sponsorship of shows with gay and
lesbian characters and story lines. Write to
Chrm. Charles M. Harper, ConAgra, Inc.,
One ConAgra Dr., Omaha, NE 68102.
(Healthy Choice foods, Morton frozen foods)
and to Chrm. Henry Wendt, SmithKline
Beecham, PO Box 7929, Philadelphia, PA
19101. (Aqua Velva, Calgon bath products,
Massengill douches. Contact decongestant).
Maple Drive: Gay Family Drama Doing
Time on Maple Drive, a TV movie broadcast
last March on Fox, was a realistic and moving
look at a closeted gay son driven to attempt
suicide because of his family ’ s rigid expecta
tions. “Matt” (William McNamara) later
comes out and mends fences with his lover
and with his family. The final reconciliation
scene with his conservative father (James
Sikking) was particularly affecting. (The film
was directed by thirtysomething’s Ken Olin).
It’s important to give Fox positive feed
back (and ask for more gay inclusion in future
projects) by writing Peter Chemin, P*resident,
Fox Broadcasting, 10201 West Pico Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90035.
CHETSKNS SATTLSMSN’S CLUB
Friday,
July 3rd
Saturday,
July 4th
Sunday,
July 5th
Saturday,
July 11th
Saturday,
July 18th
Underwear Party
Wear underwear and get in free
Fireworks
Bar-B-Que
Spartans L/L Club Night
Christmas In July w/Santa Claus
Special Guest Neely O'Hara
Ashley Wells with Guest
Roxanne Ashley and
Jennifer Leigh
995 Asheville Highway, Spartanburg, SC
Take Exit 72-C Off 1-85 Towards Spartanburg
1-800-428-9808 or (803) 573-7304
Guests Call Ahead For Arrangements.
Super Sunday with Ty
OPEN 3 PM.
Tues. Pool Tournament
Winner $20.00 Bar Tab