The News & Entertainment Paper for N.C.’s Gay Community
Fundamentalists
Converge On
Washington, D.C.
Is this a sideshow or a serious threat?
A Special Report by Winslow Peck
with introductory remarks by Michael Baker
On April 28 and 29, the nation’s capital will be the site
for a fundamentalist event called “Washington for
Jesus.” Far from being a quiet religious ceremony, it
seems clear that “Washington for Jesus,” led by a group
of conservative ministers, is a serious, well-financed
effort to pressure Congress. With considerably more
money and organization behind their effot, this march
and rally could possibly have more impact that the
October 14 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay
Rights.
I rying to predict the ettects ot this event, however, is
difficult. Just reading the publicity material is enough to
provoke both extreme anger and paranoia. It is just as
easy for a gay person to go off the deep end on the subject
of these self-righteous “Christians,” as it is for a
fundamentalist to do on the subject of homosexuals.
Unfortunately, this sort of response does not help
clarify the central concern here: Just how big a danger to
the gay community are these people? How many of them
are there? And how much influence do they have?
In March, a group of fundamdentalist ministers
presented the White House with petitions containing
over 70,000 signatures urging that the President and
Congress take strong stands in favor of prayer in the
schools and an increase in the national defense budget
and against abotion, pornography, and homosexuality.
The petition drive, according to a report in the Blade,
was organized in response to a pro-gay rights petition
drive organized last year by the Natinal Gay Task Force.
That effort netted about 50,000 signatures.
In a press conference prior to the White House
presentation, spokesman Bob Jones, III, of Bob Jones
University in South Carolina, criticized President Carter
for “not acting very born-again.” He told reporters that
“Ronald Reagan is the unanimous choice (for president)
of Bible believing people.”
Jones went on to say that the President had a soft
attitude on homosexuality. “God’s judgement,” he
promised, “is going to fall on America as on other
continued on page 2 ^
FCC Copes With
Gay Community
Several recent actions by the Federal Communications
Commission seem to strengthen the position of WSOC-TV in
Charlotte in giving the local gay community equal time to rebut
the fiery declamations of TV evangelist Charles Sustar. In one
action, the FCC recently ruled that a Dallas TV station was
exercising legitimate editorial discretion when it cancelled a
religious program because of anti-gay discussions. Further, the
FCC also recently issued an order that broadcasters listen to all
groups that are significant elements within their service areas,
including lesbians and gay men.
WFAA-TV in Dallas cancelled “James Robinson Presents”
last February, according to reports in GCN and the Blade. This
decision followed the airing of a sermon in which Robinson
condemned homosexuality as a “perversion of the highest
order.”
Commenting on the gay movement, Robinson said, “I don’t
know whatever gave homosexuals the right...to take a good,
wholesome name like gay and apply it to anything as despicable
as the homosexual movement.” The fundamentalist evangelist
also inferred that there was a correlation between the murders of
San Francisco city officials George Muscone and Harvey Milk
and God’s contempt for homosexuality. In addition, Robison
cited statements by certain law enforcement officials as evidence
that gays actively recruit young children.
citing numerous complaints trom a variety ot groups
Robison had attacked, including other religious denominations,
the station pulled Robison’s program. Station manager Dave
Lane said that the cancellation was due to Ha continuing
problem with Reverend Robison making statements about
other religious organizations and community groups.”
Further, the station claimed that under the FCC Fairness
Doctrine it would be required to grant equal time at no charge to
those wishing to respond to Robison’s attacks. The FCC
Fairness Doctrine requires broadcasters to present contrasting
views on all controversial issues of public interest.
Equal time was subsequently given to the Dallas Gay Political
Caucus to answer Robison’s comments.
The James Robison Evangelistic Association subsequently
lodged a formal 17-page complaint against the station with the
FCC, saying “the personal attack rules and the Fairness
Doctrine have an unconstitutionally chilling effect on the
expression of views on religious and moral issues.” The FCC
ruled in favor of the station.
Robison’s show was reinstated by WFAA-TV last July,
however, after an agreement was reached which allows the
station to view each show before it is aired. The station reserves
the right to delete portions which might result in complaints.
The program is currently broadcast by about 90 television
stations throughout the country. Although a New York station
reportedly deleted anti-gay comments from the audio portion of
one Of Robison’s broadcasts last summer, WFAA-TV is the
only station to cancel it so far.
Continued on p. 5