Chicago activists working in conjunction with the website StopDrLaura.com have formed the Stop Dr. Laura Coalition, with the aim of stopping WBBM—Chicago/ Channel 2's plans to air her TV show when it premieres this fall.
There is a picket scheduled for Saturday, April 15, 3 p.m. at the station, 633 N. McClurg Court. Calling LGBT people "biological errors," pedophiles and "deviant," Schlessinger "stridently opposes gay marriage, our right to adopt children, and counsels parents to isolate their kids from LGBT people," said John Aravosis of StopDrLaura.com .
A Chicago Coalition letter to other organizations outlined the danger they say Schlessinger represents: LGBT people "should need little reminder about the potential price of broadcasting this hate under the sanction of being a 'doctor'—increased gay—bashing, teen suicides, an organizing tool for denying us any number of civil rights, etc."
The Chicago Coalition is made of activists from the Chicago Anti—Bashing Network, the Chicago Lesbian Avengers, the Autonomous Zone, SANGAT/ Chicago, and Wicker Park Anti—Racist Action. For local activism info, call ( 773 ) 878— 4781; or thayer1917@aol.com . At Channel 2, contact: Jim Berman, Programming Director, ( 312 ) 951— 3575, and Frank Price, General Manager, ( 312 ) 951— 3852.
The Coalition continues to seek other organizations to join their effort. The next planning meeting is Thursday, April 6, 7 p.m. at Ann Sather's Restaurant, 929 W. Belmont, 2nd floor.
Meanwhile, sexy nude photos taken of "family values" advocate Schlessinger by a boyfriend ( when she was married to another man ) were restored to the Internet last week by clublove.com in a show of "solidarity" with the gay—rights community, reports Entertainment Wire.
Clublove.com first displayed the "dirty dozen" photos of the talk show host in 1998 after obtaining them from her ex—boyfriend, retired Los Angeles radio talk show host Bill Ballance. Schlessinger eventually admitted they were real but said she had changed her lifestyle and should not be blamed for past errors in judgment.
In another blow to Dr. Laura's career, two national advertisers have canceled commercials during her radio program, according to information obtained by StopDrLaura.com .
StopDrLaura.com learned of the companies' decisions in e—mails from company executives. An executive with more.com, an online pharmacy, wrote to one concerned customer: "We do not support her views and we refuse to advertise with her again."
Another national advertiser, Amica Insurance, has also decided to stop advertising during Schlessinger's radio program.
Meanwhile, a coalition of conservative family organizations is requesting a meeting with Paramount TV to ensure that the radio talk show host is allowed to "speak her mind."
A diverse inter—faith coalition of 10 pro—family leaders, including three "former homosexuals," are waiting for a reply to their March 10 request for a meeting with Paramount to talk with executives.
Some gays and lesbians have raised concerns about the potential trampling of Schlessinger's First Amendment rights, while others say while she has a right to her views, gays also have a right to try and stop her damaging rhetoric.
