MTV to Start First Network Aimed at Gays

MTV Networks announced yesterday that, after a long delay, it intended next February to start the first cable television channel directed at gay viewers. But beyond the typical challenges facing new cable networks of finding distribution and advertisers, the new channel, to be called Logo, will have one unusual obstacle: outrage from conservative groups.

The Rev. Louis P. Sheldon, the head of the Traditional Values Coalition, said Logo was "bad news for American families" that would lead to moral anarchy, and that he had called heads of other religious groups in an effort to mount a boycott of all advertisers who sponsor the channel.

"Madison Avenue has gone amok," Mr. Sheldon said. "They don't realize they've awakened the sleeping giant."

Tom Freston, the chairman of MTV Networks, the division of Viacom that will run Logo, said company executives understood that some people were uncomfortable with gay men and lesbians. But he cited polls that he said indicated increasing levels of tolerance and acceptability for gay people. "We don't expect any huge backlash," Mr. Freston said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/26/business/media/26tube.html

Still, the same opposition trying to block gay marriage may mobilize against the channel. Mike Haley, a manager of gender issues with the Christian group Focus on the Family, said he worried that the network would encourage young people to think of themselves as gay, just as he said he did for 12 years.

"You have a kid who is looking to fit in, and here you have a network that looks very inviting, very accepting, and this young kid is going to get a false representation of what homosexuality has to offer," Mr. Haley said. "I really am sad and fearful for these kids who are going to want to be as happy and as happy-go-lucky as Will is on 'Will & Grace.' "

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Yeah, that is the way to fit in in this world, be gay. What a crock of nonsense.

will produce any decent programs for gays/ lesbians should take a day and watch MTV`s programming..absoluty awful-no redeeming social value at all...

The Real World series gave us Pedro, who brought AIDS into many people's consciousness, and Dave who did the same for the consequences of Don't Ask Don't Tell. They have had some good work on both voting and a couple of good documentaries (one about coming out was terrific). I am not going to claim it is a slam dunk but they could do a world of good.