Plans for Dr. Laura Protested at Studio

The historic gates of Paramount Pictures in Hollywood provided the backdrop Tuesday morning for a protest of the studio’s plans to distribute a daytime television show hosted by radio personality Laura Schlessinger.

About 200 demonstrators representing gay and lesbian organizations rallied against what they perceive to be anti-gay rhetoric espoused by Schlessinger on her radio program, with the peaceful crowd spilling into the street and causing police to shut down westbound traffic on Melrose Avenue. Roughly two dozen protesters supporting Schlessinger assembled across the street, at times chanting, “Protect Dr. Laura, protect free speech.”

Paramount’s decision to turn the nationally syndicated advice maven into a TV personality in the fall has set off a flurry of reaction from gays and lesbians. In her daily exploration of morality and ethics, Schlessinger has referred to gays as “a biological error,” advocated controversial reparative therapies and questioned providing rights to those who engage in “deviant sexual behavior.”

David Lee, co-creator of the Paramount-produced NBC comedy hit “Frasier,” was among those who spoke at Tuesday’s rally. He stressed the campaign was directed at the studio, not Schlessinger’s right to express her views.

“We are protesting against Paramount,” Lee said, adding that he is “really ashamed of the studio I work with.”

Joan M. Garry, executive director of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, also argued that the goal was not censorship, but closed by telling Paramount, “It’s time to accept your responsibility and drop this show.”

“There is no constitutional right to have a television show,” stated Peter Teague, executive director of the San Francisco-based Horizons Foundation, a gay and lesbian community foundation.

Those on hand in support of Schlessinger voiced their own disenchantment with Paramount, saying studio officials have thus far been unresponsive to their requests for a meeting regarding the issue.

“Their viewing public is being ignored for a small, loud segment” of the population, said Cherri Gardner, a representative from a group called Campaign for California Families. “It’s not good business.”

Paramount officials declined comment but in a statement reiterated their respect for the right to protest as well as the studio’s support for both civil rights and “the free exchange of speech and ideas.”

In addition to creating discord between the studio and some of its employees, efforts to convince Paramount to discontinue Schlessinger’s television show before it is even broadcast has split the gay and lesbian community.

Bill Dobbs, a gay civil rights attorney and member of the organization Queer Watch, sees the campaign as an affront to the 1st Amendment. “It feels like we’re in the 1950s again,” he said. “I don’t know how this can be progress.”

Dobbs added that attempting to keep the show off the air could be a double-edged sword for gays, who have faced similar pressure tactics for projects they have supported. These include a campaign to prevent public broadcasting stations from airing “It’s Elementary,” a TV series that goes into classrooms and shows teachers discussing gay and lesbian issues with elementary and middle-school students.

In addition to Tuesday’s event, the West Hollywood City Council passed a resolution Monday evening opposing Paramount’s decision to afford Schlessinger “a forum to perpetuate her hatred toward gays and lesbians.”

“Our biggest concern is that you’ve got a corporation here that may actually profit from promoting homophobia,” said council member Steve Martin, who spoke at the rally. Martin said gay and lesbian activists discouraged by the recent passage of Proposition 22--which said that California will not recognize gay marriages--have seized on Schlessinger as a new cause.

Schlessinger issued a statement on March 10 saying that she has never intended to “hurt anyone or contribute in any way to an atmosphere of hate or intolerance.” She has declined subsequent interview requests from The Times.

Schlessinger’s nationally syndicated radio program currently runs on more than 400 stations. She dispenses advice about a variety of family-related topics and began to crusade on gay issues in response to the push for recognition of gay marriage and adoption rights.