Radio Bashing
Last week, Weekly Surge reported that in response to the recent bouts between tourism officials in Myrtle Beach and Virginia Beach, Va. radio station WNOR FM 99 of the Hampton Roads area in Virginia launched the Web site www.virginiabeachtourismbureau.com. It appears to take a humorous stab at the Myrtle Beach area, but in doing so the radio station takes several offensive jabs at the LGBT community here on the lovely Grand Strand as well as the Web site www.gaymyrtlebeach.com. I figured I would contact the radio station and its parent company, Saga Communications, to confront them on the issue. Following is part of the letter I wrote.
"While I don't care to get involved in what I see as a petty rivalry between competing markets, I found it rather alarming that much of the insults were directed toward the gay and lesbian community of the area. Are you equating gay and lesbian people to a 'hypodermic needle landfill' or 'toxic waste site' (two phrases that appear on the Web site)?
...I am very proud of myself as a gay man, and I am very proud of the community we have here that has grown more and more accepting of its diverse population. While I have not visited your area, I have read many things regarding its LGBT population. Your station claims to be the one that 'Rocks Hampton Roads.' From what I understand, the Hampton Roads area boasts a large gay community. How would your gay and lesbian listeners react to a similar insult put out by a Myrtle Beach radio station?
With this type of insult to gay and lesbian people, you are not only hurting the LGBT community in Myrtle Beach, but also those in your own community. Radio stations have long found it easy to use insults toward the gay community as a way to make a lame joke on air. While you may not have the same views that I hold regarding gay equality, there is no excuse for the barrage of hate that still exists on-air and on the Internet.
I would appreciate a response to why you found it necessary to continue in spreading hate toward gay and lesbian people and use us as the butt of your jokes. There are gay and lesbian people out there that have to deal with issues of hate every day. People often have to hide who they are because they fear that if they admit to being gay they risk losing their jobs, their families or even their homes. Gay teen suicides are four times that of heterosexual youth. The messages that your company is sending out is that it is still okay to make fun of gay people. This action leads to the continued hate and prejudicial behavior toward our entire community."
My only response - "Thanks for your thoughts. We take your concerns seriously and I'll discuss them with my staff," wrote Dave Paulus, President and General Manager of WNOR, in an e-mail.
I doubt that I will hear anything else from the company or that anything will be done regarding the matter. They may have just gotten a big laugh at my letter as well. Who knows?
I e-mailed Nancy Gray, Media Communications Manager at the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce to get her organization's response regarding the Web site. "We regret that our advertising success has prompted others to initiate personal attacks on individuals who have nothing to do with the chamber," says Gray.
It astonished me how irresponsible much of the media continues to be in its use of anti-gay humor. Do you remember the Jay Leno controversy in 2006 when Jeff Whitty, the creator of the musical "Avenue Q," took a stand against the late-night talk show host when he used gay people as joke material on "The Tonight Show"? Whitty pointed out in a letter to Leno that while the show is not "a White House press conference" it still reaches a lot of people and the continued use of "gay" jokes merely continue the barrage of mistreatment that gay and lesbian people have suffered for years.
Just last month blogger Brandon Greeson responded to some, according to him, "careless remarks" made by a Charlotte, N.C. deejay on WIBT FM 96.1. In response, the deejay made on-air and written apologies to his listeners and to Greeson directly. Greeson also asked the station's parent company, Clear Channel Charlotte, to make sure the station's management company reviewed its diversity policy with its staff. Greeson's brave step gave me the inspiration to contact WNOR.
It's sad really that individuals like those at WNOR feel it necessary to continue the mistreatment of the LGBT community. I mean, isn't there something funnier out there to pull from than a group of individuals who just want to live their lives, yet still face backlash on every street corner because of who they love? Hopefully one day we won't be a prime target for comedians and radio stations. Until then, let's take a lesson from Greeson and Whitty and start taking our media professionals to task.
OUT & ABOUT
Sunday, June 1 - The Center Project, located at 307 Highway 15 in Myrtle Beach, celebrates its one year anniversary today. The Center Project serves the LGBT community along the Grand Strand and Pee Dee regions. In an effort to raise more funds this year TCP has created the TCP Club 100. Through this group, one hundred people will have the opportunity to pledge $25 per month in order to assist in this monthly expenses TCP faces. In a recent letter to the local LGBT community and supporters, TCP board members expressed their hope that this "will allow the Center to focus more on growing and programming" in the coming year. For more information about programs at the community center call 626-4953 or visit www.thecenterproject.com.
Friday, June 6 - The Gay Professionals Happy Hour will meet from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. June 6 at Anchor Cafe, located next to the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach. GPHH meets the first Friday of every month at different locations along the Strand and is open to everyone. For more information email FirstFriday@GambleLivingston.com.
Saturday, June 7 - Sunday, June 15 - Wilmington, N.C. PRIDE Week. Our neighbors to the north celebrate their pride with parties, picnics, drag shows and more. The events kick off on Saturday, June 7 with a concert featuring Halcyon, Steph Taylor, Someone's Sister and Rodie Ray starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Soapbox Laundro Lounge. Tickets are available online at www.thesoapboxlive.com. The main PRIDE festival will take place on Saturday, June 14 in downtown Wilmington on Dock Street, between 2nd and Front Streets. There will be vendors, food, fun and local entertainment. The festival is free and open to the public. For more information and a complete list of pride events visit www.wilmingtonpride.com.
Till next week, have fun and be safe.
-Chris Rudisill, Weekly Surge