TV & VIDEO - Jan. 25, 1990

Andy Rooney Sparks Gay Protest: Andy Rooney was accused Tuesday of homophobia by a major gay organization after they said he suggested that homosexual relationships caused AIDS. Rooney, whose “A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney,” often serves as a tag to “60 Minutes,” has said that he “feels innocent of any negative behavior toward homosexuals,” and that he counts gays among some of his friends. Many of the objections raised by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) stemmed from Rooney’s year-end television special which aired on CBS Dec. 28. Rooney said: “There should be some recognition that in 1989 many of the ills that killed us are self-induced. Too much alcohol, too many drugs, homosexual unions and cigarettes quite often led to premature deaths.” Rooney said he has gotten hundreds of letters about his comments and had sent a response to the gay magazine The Advocate in which he apologized and promised: “I’ll be more careful.” GLAAD spokesman Craig Davidson said GLAAD wanted Rooney to apologize on the air for his remarks. CBS said it was reviewing the situation.