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Conservatives Claim Nickelodeon Promoting Homosexual Agenda
CNSNEWS.com ^ | 6/04/02 | Matt Pyeatt

Posted on 06/04/2002 2:23:49 AM PDT by kattracks

(CNSNews.com) - A conservative group says Rosie O'Donnell, who recently disclosed her homosexuality, will appear on a Nickelodeon Network program in which children will be asked if they think homosexuality is morally wrong and whether they believe laws are needed to protect homosexuals from discrimination.

Nick News, the program in question, is aimed at viewers between the ages of eight and 13.

While Nickelodeon admits it is "researching and compiling information" about a program focusing on "diversity and tolerance," the Traditional Values Coalition (TVC) alleges that the network is lying about its real goal -- promoting the homosexual agenda on a popular kids' television program.

Andrea Lafferty, executive director of the TVC, said the Nick News program is being produced by Linda Ellerbee, a long-time supporter of homosexual causes, according to the TVC, and will feature an appearance by O'Donnell. Lafferty did not reveal the source of her information except to say it came from "insiders."

"It's time for Nickelodeon to get its story straight about their plans to promote homosexuality on their children's network," Lafferty said.

Lafferty said her organization has learned that O'Donnell will be the only adult on the set of the program and will be interacting with children before and during the taping.

"What kind of pro-homosexual message will she be giving these children?" Lafferty asked. "Where's the balance? Why not invite Dr. Laura on the show?" a reference to conservative talk show host Laura Schlessinger.

Lafferty accused Nickelodeon of deception. Despite statements from the network, Lafferty said an article in the Washington Blade newspaper revealed that the program had already completed its research and development phase and that homosexual activists would participate in the show.

"Nickelodeon lied to me twice about the status of this program and the involvement of a homosexual activist group in its production. Nickelodeon's leadership cannot be trusted to tell the truth about this show. I was also told that Nickelodeon would not ask children invasive questions about homosexuality, but I have a copy of the questions that will be asked. I consider them inappropriate," Lafferty said.

According to the TVC, it has obtained the following questions intended for the program.

What do you think about homosexuals -- do you think it is morally wrong to be a homosexual? Why or why not?

Many kids these days are growing up in families that are non-traditional (have 2 moms, or 2 dads) -- What do you think about that?

Many schools are bringing issues about homosexuality and diversity into classrooms -- do you think these kinds of things should be taught in school? Why or why not?

Do you think homosexuals are discriminated against because of who they are?

Do you think we need laws to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination -- why or why not?

David Bittler, senior communications director for Nickelodeon, refused to acknowledge whether the questions were in fact being planned as part of the program. However, he insisted the Nick News program was still in the early stages of production.

"The claims being made by the Traditional Values Coalition are unfounded if not misguided. Nick News is researching and compiling information for a special focusing on issues of diversity and tolerance with specific attention to the issue of same-sex parented families," he told CNSNews.com via email.

Bittler also stated that the program has not been taped and that content would be evaluated to make it appropriate for his audience.

"The special has not yet been produced, and any presumption of its content is premature. In the tradition of Nick News, the content will be totally age appropriate for our viewers," Bittler said.

He refused further comment on the subject.

Lafferty said any homosexual message is inappropriate for Nickelodeon viewers.

"The truth is that Nickelodeon is working with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) to promote this show. GLAAD's whole purpose for existence is to push positive portrayals of homosexuality in the media," she said.

Lafferty also said Nickelodeon has "blocked its main email address and is not accepting emails from concerned parents."

When parents call to voice their disapproval over the show, "they're being given the runaround," Lafferty charged.

Nickelodeon does not have an official target date for airing the program, but the TVC claims it has information that the network plans to air the program in mid-June.

The TVC is urging its supporters to sign a petition voicing their disapproval of the program. Lafferty said the petition would be delivered to Nickelodeon.

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: homosexualagenda
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To: Kevin Curry
I know what you mean. You get jealous of your parents and their parents for being able to raise children in a sane world.
61 posted on 06/08/2002 6:28:18 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: kattracks
Question - is it possible to contact the cable company and have them block specific channels or do you have to do that at your set top box? I'd love to cintact my cable company to have them block Nick and let them know specifically why. Either way it has to go, I'm not letting my 11-year old watch that stuff.
62 posted on 06/08/2002 11:31:11 PM PDT by CalConservative
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To: Constitution Day
She is a radical feminist who is one of the founders of the Oxygen channel (also deprogrammed in my house).

Believe me, you wouldn't be watching it even if you didn't have it blocked. It's the single biggest bomb amongst basic cable channels to come along in years. Its shows universally suck, and its ratings are literally so low that Nielsen can't compute them ... at any given moment Oxygen might be watched by less than 1,000 people. The only reason it wasn't shut down two years ago is because it's run by GERALDINE LAYBOURNE and THE MIGHTY OPRAH, so people keep throwing money at it.

63 posted on 06/08/2002 11:39:04 PM PDT by Timesink
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To: CalConservative
Question - is it possible to contact the cable company and have them block specific channels or do you have to do that at your set top box?

There's so many cable companies and set-top boxes out there that I can't answer your question with certainty, but these days most blocking is done by the subscriber through your set-top box. However, as long as Nickelodeon is part of the basic cable package (that is, if you don't NEED a digital cable box in order to watch it), then yes, special filters do exist that fit onto the cable line coming into your house, that will block out only the frequencies that compose a single channel. (This is how they kept you from getting free HBO back in the good old days; everyone had a filter attached to their line unless they ordered HBO, then a technician came by your house and unscrewed the filter.) So you could call them up and try to demand that such a filter be installed for whatever channel number Nickelodeon is on for you. Whether they'd be willing to comply, I have no idea. But the filters definitely exist. They're just little tiny pieces of metal; you screw one end into the incoming cable off the street, and the other end into the cable going into your house.

64 posted on 06/08/2002 11:46:05 PM PDT by Timesink
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To: Timesink
It's the single biggest bomb amongst basic cable channels to come along in years.
Its shows universally suck, and its ratings are literally so low that Nielsen can't compute them ...

Yeah, I've read that it's really a ratings bomb.
As a matter of fact, I think the article I read about it had the title: "Oxygen: Gasping For Air?"

Heh heh... what a great title. Of course, I've cried them a river (not).

65 posted on 06/09/2002 1:33:08 PM PDT by Constitution Day
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To: kattracks
Nickelodeon Network program in which children will be asked if they think homosexuality is morally wrong and whether they believe laws are needed to protect homosexuals from discrimination.

Yeah they probably have all the kids wired up so they get zapped if they give The Wrong Answer...

66 posted on 06/09/2002 1:34:46 PM PDT by maxwell
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