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Nickelodeon To Air Homoseuxality
Show - Parents Enraged

By Matt Pyeatt
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
6-7-2


(CNSNews.com) - Plans by the Nickelodeon cable television network to air a special on homosexuality and same-sex parenting have outraged thousands of parents, many of whom are threatening to tune out the show - or cancel it altogether.
 
According to a poll conducted by CNSNews.com on June 4-5, 99 percent of 15,227 the people responding did not believe it was appropriate for the kid's channel Nickelodeon to air a show about homosexuality.
 
The poll is structured to allow one response from any computer terminal. Survey responses reflect only the opinion of a percentage of CNSNews.com readers and the poll is not considered scientific.
 
David Bittler, senior communications director for Nickelodeon, confirmed Wednesday that lesbian activist Rosie O'Donnell would take part in the program.
 
"Rosie O'Donnell is scheduled to be involved. She is not the only adult on the set. I assure you that all sides of this issue of gay parenting are represented and well represented," he said.
 
As CNSNews.com reported earlier, a conservative group says Rosie O'Donnell will appear on the Nickelodeon Network program Nick News in which children will be asked if they think homosexuality is morally wrong and whether they believe laws are needed to protect homosexuals from discrimination.
 
Nick News is produced by the New York-based Lucky Duck Productions, which is run by Linda Ellerbe. She also hosts the Nick News program, which is aimed at viewers between the ages of eight and 13.
 
Bittler called the association of homosexual parenting and sexuality "fallacious." Homosexual parenting is not a sexual matter, he said. Furthermore, he added, "Nick News does not make news, it follows the news.
 
"What that means is that when there is an issue that reaches critical mass in the culture, whether it be Clinton-Lewinsky, September 11 or the issues of public school shootings, Nick News covers it in a way that is age appropriate for its audience," Bittler added.
 
'Not in my house'
 
Comments from the CNSNews.com poll indicate that some parents are so angry with Nickelodeon's decision to air a program on homosexuality that they will not allow the channel to be viewed in their homes.
 
One viewer commented, "I don't feel it is up to us to judge homosexuality, but this is a children's network and I think kids are exposed to enough stuff at an early age, and putting a homosexuality show on is almost promoting it. My son is a huge Blues Clues and Nick Jr. fan, but if this show is aired I will no longer allow him to watch Nickelodeon. We will stick to Disney videos, and the Disney channel."
 
Others have vowed to speak to other parents to try to get them to bar Nickelodeon in their homes. "I can promise you that if this gets aired, I will do everything in my power to make sure that every parent I know will never turn their TV on this channel," said another viewer.
 
Bittler said it was important for Nick News to air the program on homosexuality and homosexual parenting.
 
"The fact of the matter is that kids are not finding out about these things through Nick News. Nick News realizes through its contacts and through the headlines that these are issues that are around and need to be explained to kids so that kids can have some information and make up their own minds. Again, that is all that we are doing here," he said.
 
Some parents responding to the CNSNews.com viewer poll called the program bad business for Nickelodeon. "I'm not homophobic or anything, but I'm raising my children in a Christian home and this is not what I want for them...My children love Nickelodeon but they will no longer be allowed to watch if something's not done."
 
Bittler said the program was not intended to brainwash anyone, and he noted that Nick News has been covering tough topic for years.
 
"For the last decade Nick News has covered tough, top issues - including wars and drugs - in age-appropriate manners and has been awarded many, many kudos, from parents' groups to top journalism organizations, and I assure you that tradition will continue with this special," he said.
 
Bittler refused to answer questions about whether the popular cable channel had received negative feedback from parents. "We are not trying to do anything incendiary or offensive, and I assure you that this program will not be incendiary or offensive," said Bittler.
 
One viewer was not surprised that Nickelodeon would attempt to air such a topic. "MTV owns Nick. What do you expect?"
 
Others have vowed to search for the sponsors of the program and "boycott their products."
 
Others had harsh criticism for Bittler. "Nickelodeon's David Bittler should be fired. He's dishonest and of low moral character, and we all know character counts. No more Nickelodeon for my kids."
 
Bittler said that all he could do was ensure that both sides would be represented over the controversial topic. "All I can tell you is that we are covering this issue from all sides. All sides are well and fairly represented."
 





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