GLT » Stonewall Service Award: KPBS-TV

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Stonewall Service Award: KPBS-TV

Published Thursday, 28-Jul-2005 in issue 918

The independent broadcasting station KPBS-TV’s policy of inclusion and tolerance translates into programming that brings visibility and awareness to our community.

From the popular ongoing series “In The Life,” to documentaries and dramas, KPBS-TV has aired nearly two-dozen programs just in the last year that specifically tackle GLBT issues.

Particularly hot on the topic of legalizing same-sex marriages, some of the titles that aired in the past year are: “I Can’t Marry You,” “Postcards From Buster” and “Amasong Chorus: Singing Out.”

An episode of the children’s cartoon “Postcards From Buster” entitled “Sugartime” features an animated rabbit named Buster visiting the home of real-life children in Vermont, whose parents are a lesbian couple, to learn about maple sugaring. The episode created a national controversy in January when Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings condemned the fact that the show features a lesbian couple, said it was inappropriate for children, and asked PBS to “strongly consider” returning the federal funds that helped produce the show. Though PBS yanked the episode, KPBS and a handful of other PBS affiliates around the country decided to air the episode despite the controversy.

KPBS programming manager Keith York told Pride organizers, “Our goal is to bring LGBT issues into a broader audience through quality and creative programming.”

Due to air this July on KPBS is a one-hour film on gay relationships titled Brother to Brother.