Chanting "two-four-six-eight, Dr. Laura teaches hate!" and bearing signs with such slogans as "Doctors help, not hurt," nearly 70 Philadelphia-area gay rights activists convened upon Independence Mall last night to protest this week's arrival of Laura Schlesinger's syndicated talk show to the program lineup at CBS affiliate KYW. Schlesinger -- whose new show is dedicated to dispensing "morals, values, principles and ethics," according to her Web site -- has been the target of extensive criticism for her ultra-conservative social views. In the past, she has been quoted referring to homosexuals as "biological errors," and "deviants," according to another Web site, http://www.stopdrlaura.com. Yesterday's protest was organized by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights as part of a national movement with the purpose of reminding Philadelphians, KYW management and show sponsors just how hateful Schlesinger's rhetoric is, according to Tiffany Palmer of the CLGCR. "We're here today because it's just not fair that Dr. Laura is portraying gays and lesbians as biological errors, as pedophiles or as some other kind of disorder," said Lauren Hurdecki of the CLGCR, who acted as a master of ceremonies for the protest outside KYW's offices at Fifth and Market streets. "We all have the right not to be degraded, and we're here to fight for that right," she added. Protesters first assembled at Welcome Park at Second and Walnut streets and then marched over to the Independence Mall site, all the while chanting and drawing the attentions of rush-hour city commuters. A handful of speakers then addressed the crowd of activists for nearly a half an hour with speeches on the danger of social bigotry and prejudice, as well as the need to drive Schlesinger off the airways of KYW. "Our lives and our contributions are too great to be considered a biological error," said Michael Hinson, executive director of The Colours Organization, one of the event's co-sponsors. While the protest remained peaceful, a pair of KYW security personnel were on hand throughout the demonstration. Both KYW and the show's distributor, Paramount Television, offered statements in response to the criticisms raised by the protesters both here in Philadelphia and 26 other cities across the nation. "Paramount Television recognizes every individual's right to have and express his or her point of view," said the statement issued by Paramount. "With the production of Dr. Laura's television show... we are committed to presenting society's moral and ethical issues without creating or contributing to an environment of hurt, hate or intolerance." KYW's statement echoed very similar sentiments. "While we understand [the protesters'] position, we are contractually obligated to air the show," it read. "Paramount has assured us that the program's content will not be discriminatory to any group. KYW will also monitor the program to make sure that it does not promote discrimination against any group in our community." Following the demonstration, the protesters universally responded with an attitude of success. "People have the right to protest and it's good to see people using their rights to do that," said College sophomore Josh Kaplan, a passerby who stopped to observe the demonstration. "Dr. Laura has the right to be a bigot and say what she wants to say, but people also have the right to protest and cry out against that." "I think this event was very successful and very well-attended," Palmer added. "It's a really strong statement to the advertisers that Dr. Laura's show isn't going to be a profitable one and isn't going to be one that people want to tune in to." "If Dr. Laura had been speaking out against blacks, Asians or obese people, it would be called discrimination and she wouldn't be on the air," said Philadelphia resident and activist Mark Cady. "Regardless of how people discriminate, it still has an ugly face and I think it's important that we stand up for our rights." One of the demonstrators in particular took a very unorthodox approach to the Schlesinger criticism. "She just looks like an old Joan Rivers with all the steam and none of the fun," Rev. Jim Littrell of the St. Mary's Episcopal Church said. "[While watching her on TV] it struck me that Laura could take fashion lessons from Larry King."
Philadelphians protest Dr. Laura's "bad medicine"
