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 HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA  August 2000; Volume 24 Issue 7 Procter & Gamble brushes off pro-family concerns
P&G buckled to pressure from homosexual activists demanding that the company withdraw its advertising support for the program, which will be syndicated by Paramount Domestic Television beginning in September. A radio talk show host heard by 18 million listeners on 452 radio stations, Schlessinger takes an approach to cultural and moral issues that is aggressive, traditional, and sometimes abrasive. What drew fire from the homosexual community, however, were Schlessinger's comments about homosexuals. A practicing Jew, Schlessinger has made clear that she believes the Old Testament calls homosexuality a sin. She has also said biology itself indicates that homosexuality is a "deviant" sexual practice. The P&G decision to pull out as an advertiser angered many conservatives. "P&G withered under the shrill onslaught of homosexual activists who absolutely forbid anyone to say homosexuality is immoral or unnatural behavior," said AFA Vice President Tim Wildmon. "How could P&G allow a tiny, albeit vocal minority--comprising no more than 2-3% of the total population--to intimidate them into changing their minds?" Pro-family leaders, including Wildmon, met with P&G leadership in Cincinnati, where the company is headquartered. The meeting included representatives from Concerned Women for America, Coral Ridge Ministries, Family Research Council, and Focus on the Family. Phil Burress of the local Cincinnati group, Citizens for Community Values, also attended the meeting. The pro-family delegation suggested a compromise: if P&G returned as a sponsor for Dr. Laura, company representatives could pre-screen the show and avoid advertising on any of the programs that dealt with homosexuality. P&G refused the compromise. In a letter to Tom Minnery, vice president of public policy for Focus on the Family and the spokesman for the pro-family delegation, P&G's Robert L. Wehling said the company would not reconsider its advertising decision concerning Dr. Laura's TV show. Stating that Dr. Laura has become "so polarizing" and "has become a lightning rod on issues which include homosexuality," Wehling said P&G "cannot sponsor Dr. Laura's television show." The letter also reminded pro-family leaders that P&G has been at the forefront of trying to push the networks for more family-friendly programming. Wildmon said that, while that is true, it is also true that P&G has frequently advertised on television shows filled with profanity, sex and violence. "We reminded company representatives that P&G has sponsored shows which blatantly promoted the homosexual movement," he said. "We found those shows ‘polarizing,' too. Why won't P&G promise not to sponsor any more of those programs?" Wildmon suggested that people let P&G know how they feel about the company's decision. "P&G doesn't feel it can support Dr. Laura's conservative views. Perhaps conservative people need to begin thinking about whether or not they can support P&G," he said.
© Copyright 2000 • American Family Association, all rights reserved. |
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After a meeting with a coalition of pro-family groups, Procter & Gamble (P&G) has said it will not advertise on the upcoming television talk show hosted by conservative Dr. Laura Schlessinger. 