AIDS-Support Fantasy

Thank you for printing Michael Kearns’ thought-provoking Counterpunch (“Hollywood’s AIDS Support Is More Fantasy Than Fact,” Dec. 21) regarding discrimination against persons with AIDS as well as gays and lesbians in the entertainment industry.

I have worked in the industry for 25 years as an attorney specializing in entertainment law, as a TV executive and as a Peabody Award-winning independent TV producer, and the clear and definitive picture that Kearns draws of the reality of the everyday work experience for gay technicians, production staff and talent is totally correct. It is in marked contrast to the illusion created by recent articles featured in papers such as your own across the country.

Although I am heartened and applaud meaningful steps taken by people such as Barry Diller and Sid Sheinberg and many others to help eradicate this problem, it does not, as yet, seem to influence the everyday work experience for those of us who are openly gay in the industry. Too many of us have chosen to live with the situation instead of addressing the issues publicly.

As a longtime member of the Producers Guild of America and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, I am urging those organizations to actively and unequivocally work to end this type of discrimination in the workplace.

DICK WEINER

Palm Desert