PLEASE FORWARD FREELY
June
30,
2005
Fargo, North Dakota
North Dakota Human Rights Coalition
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Good news on ABC's "Welcome to the Neighborhood"! We are
waiting for the official press release, but have been informed that
ABC has pulled the appalling television show "Welcome
to the Neighborhood".
Thank you
so very much to those of you who contacted ABC via email, phone and
fax. There was a nation-wide grassroots effort to get rid of this
discriminatory show. This shows the effect of grassroots efforts and
what happens when we work together.
Thank you
again!
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Entertainment
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
ABC Pulls 'Neighborhood' Reality Series
LOS ANGELES (AP) - ``Welcome to the Neighborhood,'' an ABC reality
series that pushes hot buttons of racism and anti-homosexuality, was
pulled by the network before its debut.
The program had drawn criticism from groups claiming it
risked fostering prejudice.
In a statement Wednesday, ABC acknowledged the delicate
nature of the series in which families asked to pick a new neighbor
are made to expose and overcome their biases.
``Welcome to the Neighborhood'' demonstrates what happens
when people are forced to ``confront preconceived notions of what
makes a good neighbor,'' the network said.
``However, the fact that true change only happens over time
made the episodic nature of this series challenging, and given the
sensitivity of the subject matter in early episodes we have decided
not to air the series at this time.''
The six-episode show, which was to debut July 10, follows
three families in Austin, Texas, who are given the chance to choose a
new neighbor for a house on their street.
Each family initially wants someone similar to them - white
and conservative.
Instead, they must choose from families that are black,
Hispanic and Asian; two gay white men who've adopted a black child; a
couple covered in tattoos and piercings; a couple who met at the
woman's initiation as a witch; and a poor white family.
In the early episodes, one man makes a crack about the
number of children piling out of the Hispanic family's car and
displays of affection between the gay men provoke disgust.
The series' producers had said it was intended to promote a
healthy and open debate about prejudice and people's fear of
differences.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, after viewing
the series, expressed strong concerns.
While it ultimately carries a valuable message about
diversity and acceptance, those watching the first episodes could be
left thinking discrimination is ``not that big a deal,'' GLAAD
spokesman Damon Romine said Wednesday.
``Regardless of how things turn out at the end of the last
show, it's dangerous to let intolerance and bigotry go unchallenged
for weeks at a time,'' he said, adding that GLAAD hopes a revised
version might air.
Before ABC announced its decision, the Family Research
Council said it was worried evangelicals would be made to appear
judgmental and foolish.
AP Television Writer David Bauder contributed to this
report.
On the Net:
http://www.abc.com
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North
Dakota Human Rights Coalition represents its members, all people
in North Dakota, and any individual who has experienced a violation of
his or her human rights and those most likely to experience
discrimination.
If you are a current member of the NDHRC, thank you.
To help the NDHRC fund our work, please join the NDHRC or renew your
membership today. Visit our membership page at:
http://ndhrc.org/membership_form_revised.htm.
Thank you for supporting the NDHRC.
