The PBS Noncontroversy posted by Ben

Yahoo! News - Embattled PBS Chief Will Step Down in 2006

F*** the Associated Press. For them to suggest that the head of PBS is stepping down because a show that they never aired (excepting the originating station) had a lesbian couple appear in it who were never even identified as lesbian on screen is ludicrous. Many elements may have led to Pat Mitchell's choice not to renew her contract, but the notion that two women who appeared on screen together talking about maple syrup is a controversy is imaginary right-wing crap. Which the Associated Press thoughtlessly just buys into. Read the article. Nowhere does Pat Mitchell suggest that she is stepping down because of the 'Buster Controversy.' The entire tone of the article, insinuating that this led to her resignation, is pure and utter fabrication by its author, with not a single fact used to back its claim. This isn't news. It's rightwing editorializing and sensationalizing of two unrelated issues.

Though the focus was on farm life and maple sugaring, the episode, entitled "Sugartime," featured an actual lesbian couple. [edit. You mean they're not just a myth?] Newly appointed Education Secretary Margaret Spellings contended that the episode did not fulfill the intent Congress had in mind for programming and said many parents would not want children exposed to such lifestyles.

The article then goes on to say that

Under Mitchell's leadership, prime-time ratings rose to the highest ever and PBS stations extended their reach for digital broadcasting to over 89 percent of the country. Mitchell also added diversity to the schedule — including the "American Family," an Emmy-nominated series featuring a Latino family, and "American Mystery!" a special featuring Indians living in the Southwest.

There are two stories here, shameless mixed together to create an unfounded insinuation:

1) Some people saw controversy in a show that showed two women who worked with maple syrup who, off screen, were a lesbian couple.

2) Pat Mitchell won't seek another three years when her remaining fifteen months are complete. (For those counting, that's Spring of 2006 that she's stepping down.)

therefore

3) Pat Mitchell is retiring because a lesbian couple appeared on screen.

Bullplop.

Incidentally, does this mean that any PBS show which happens to have a gay or lesbian actor in it is now a scandal, because the children might find out that on his own time, Mr. Reginald Humphries III likes men? Will the government pull funding from any show that hires a gay or lesbian? Will the thought police now check sexual orientation of new hires to make sure that our children are kept 'safe' from what happens off the airwaves?

F*** the Associated Press for distributing this drivel. And f*** Margaret Spelling for being an a******.