Initially, I was just irritated when I read that PBS had caved to Dept of Ed pressure to pull an episode of Postcards from Buster that contained children with lesbian parents. But as I wrote the following note to WOSU to tell them I hoped they would show it, I got pissed.
Hello--Unsurprisingly, WOSU will not be airing the "Sugartime" episode, feeling that it is important for parents to "have the option of addressing elements of this episode with their young children at a time and manner of their own choosing." Yep, you need to make sure that kids feel the appropriate revulsion and hatred of those maple sugar manufacturers.
I do not see the "Sugartime" episode of _Postcards
from Buster_ listed in your schedule. I do hope that
you intend to air the program. My decision of how
much my household will support WOSU stations this
year will depend on your choice.
From what I've read, there is no romantic contact
pictured between the mother and stepmother of the
girl Buster meets. The words "lesbian" or "gay" are
never used. The subject of gay marriage or civil union
is not relevant to this show about tapping trees for
maple sugar, and the subject is not raised.
To censor this episode is an attempt to ostracize and
inflict shame on the children -- children in this very
community -- who live in families headed by same sex
couples. I find it despicable that the Dept. of
Education has put PBS and its affiliates in this
position, and I dearly hope that you do the right thing
for children in central Ohio.
