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TV & VIDEO - Dec. 17, 1990

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Arts and entertainment reports from The Times, national and international news services and the nation's press

Gay Protest: Two gay activists confronted an angry Arsenio Hall on his talk show, demanding to know why he doesn’t interview more homosexual guests. The nearly 10-minute debate, which at times turned into a shouting match, took place at the beginning of Friday’s show, which was taped early in the evening for broadcast later that night. The argument started when two men stood up in the audience and demanded to know why Hall didn’t have more gay guests on the program. “There are a lot of gay guests on this show,” Hall shot back, “but it ain’t none of your damn business that they are gay!” Hall said that he is sensitive to the plight of all minorities, but the hecklers accused him of making fun of gays. “I do black jokes. I do gay jokes,” he said. “I’m a comedian.”

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