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I Want My Gay TV
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I
Want My Gay TV
Adelphia Launches LOGO in VT
The cast of Noah's
Arc
by Scott Sherman
A
new cable TV channel that has recently arrived in Vermont has some conservative
and religious groups worried. Concerned Women for America are, as you
might imagine, concerned. "This is a sad day for America's children,"
says their Dr. Janice Crouse. The American Family Association warns that
TV viewers are about to see "scenes of men kissing men and women
kissing women." And Focus on the Family cautions that "at any
time of the day or night an unsuspecting child can be subjected to the
message that homosexuality is a normal, natural and appealing lifestyle
choice."
The cause of this right wing hysteria
is the debut of LOGO, a new cable channel that offers 24 hours a day of
programming devoted to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community.
LOGO, which comes from MTV Networks,
plans to offer a variety of gay-themed programming, including reality
shows, comedies, LGBT movies, documentaries, and a host of other targeted
shows.
A sampling of LOGO's programs at the
time of this writing included "First Comes Love," starring actor/comedian
Scott Thompson (Kids in the Hall) who "challenges gay and lesbian
couples to fulfill a long-held wish to have the wedding of their dreams,"
"The Best of the GLAAD Awards," and the movies Flawless,
The Brandon Teena Story, and Jeffrey.
Upcoming shows include a stand-up
comedy program called "Take My Life Partner Please," and "Noah's
Arc," a comedic drama about the life of an African-American gay man
in Los Angeles and his three best friends.
LOGO has a news partnership with CBS,
and it plans to produce original co-branded content with publications
including The Advocate, Out and The Out Traveler. The
network also runs an ongoing original documentary series, Momentum,
which focuses on the variety of distinct and different lives within the
LGBT community, from a gay rugby team and gay rappers to lesbian surfers
and gay Muslims and Latinos.
Adelphia Cable in Vermont has
been carrying LOGO since its June 30 premier. LOGO is available as part
of Adelphia's entry-level digital package, which adds approximately 50
additional channels to their basic analog package, for about $12 more
a month (plus equipment rental).
Local cable operators can choose which
channels they do and do not include in their programming. According to
Julia Andrews, Marketing Manager of Adelphia, adding LOGO was a logical
decision. "It's pretty clear we have a strong gay and lesbian community
in Vermont, and we strive to provide relevant programming to all our subscribers.
We'd be remiss if we ignored that group."
Lisa Birmingham, Adelphia's Director
of Government and Community Affairs, agrees. "Vermont is a vibrant
place, with diverse tastes, interests and households. Adelphia is committed
to serving our entire state by offering a broad range of choices in programming."
Brian Graden, President, Entertainment
at MTV Networks Music Group said this before the channel's premier, "Because
of the variety of perspectives and experiences in the gay community, the
audience appeal and future programming ideas for LOGO are boundless. We
are excited to make this channel available very soon to many Adelphia
subscribers who are eager to have this option in Vermont."
Adelphia says they are working hard
to let people know that LOGO is available. The company was a sponsor of
this year's Gay Pride festival and had a prime-location booth at the vendor
venue in City Hall. According to Andrews "People [at Pride] were
really enthusiastic about the programming. I think it's something that’s
time has come."
Adelphia's basic digital package reaches
more than 50,000 households in Vermont. Adelphia's spokespersons state
they are not aware of any negative feedback about LOGO, nor do they anticipate
any here in VT.
However, if they do get
such calls, Adelphia intends to educate the callers about their ability
to block unwanted content. "We have an ongoing info campaign called
Control Your TV (www.controlyourtv.org)
which educates parents on how to block channels or other unwanted programming,"
Birmingham said. "There are all kinds of options that enable customers
to select what's available in their household."
Of course, Adelphia can also
remind their viewers that while their digital package now offers one LGBT
channel, it also has at least five religious channels. Which is to say:
There's something for everyone, and "everyone" finally includes
us.
With his husband working out of state, writer Scott Sherman watches
a lot of cable TV at home in Richmond.