Controversial radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger, who has made her anti-gay stance consistently known, is one of the 2005 nominees into the National Radio Hall of Fame ( NRHOF ) , according to an announcement from the organization.
Schlessinger is part of a list of diverse pioneer and active candidates who are known locally and/or nationally. Other potential inductees include White House correspondent Ann Compton, late radio humorist Jean Shepard, San Francisco talk-show host Ronn Owens and legendary comic duo Abbott & Costello.
Individuals or programs are nominated by the NRHOF Steering Committee, which comprises members appointed by the Museum of Broadcast Communications and includes radio executives and trade journalists, among others. There are nominees in four categories: Pioneer Network or Syndicated; Active Network or Syndicated: Pioneer Local or Regional; and Active Local or Regional. Schlessinger is in the Active Network or Syndicated classification, which normally recognizes distinguished broadcasters who have made contributions to the radio industry for at least 20 years.
To say that Schlessinger has had a contentious relationship with the gay community is stating things mildly.
According to StopDrLaura.com, which was instrumental in the 2001 cancellation of her TV show, Schlessinger had repeatedly called gays and lesbians 'biological errors' and deviant. ( According to the site, she once quoted: 'How many letters have I read on the air from gay men who acknowledge that a huge portion of the male homosexual populace is predatory on young boys?' ) However, she was not always anti-gay. Answers.com stated that, until 1997, Schlessinger was very supportive to gay callers during the show, taking issue with Christian religious leaders who were opposed to gay relationships, and said that it was cruel to deny love and happiness to gay couples. However, she renounced this view and embraced a much more traditionalist view. Schlessinger then mentioned groups who claimed they could help gays become heterosexual, and she attacked the American Psychological Association.
Bruce DuMont, the president/CEO of the Radio Hall of Fame, told Windy City Times that ' [ t ] he nominees to the ROH are determined by radio executives and academicians who look at names put out by an even larger group of people who are interested in radio. All of those names then go to a national balloting process. ... I have no influence or control [ over the nominations or ballots ] nor have I had any in the past.'
When asked about his feelings about Schlessinger's nomination, DuMont commented that he honors his oath about being an objective member of the ROH steering committee, but added that there have been controversial past nominees, including Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, and late radio figure Walter Winchell. ( Limbaugh was inducted into the ROH in 1993 and Winchell in 2004. Stern has yet to be included. ) Ballots were mailed to radio executives, broadcast historians and all Radio Hall of Fame members.
Anyone wishing to vote can join the Radio Hall of Fame for $15 at www.radiohof.org or www.museum.tv .
The voting deadline is Aug. 1. The winner in each category will be inducted during a national radio broadcast from Chicago's Renaissance Hotel Nov. 5.
