WOSU Channel 34, the PBS affiliate in Columbus, decided to air a controversial episode from a children’s show depicting a lesbian couple despite the decision by PBS to withhold the episode from regular broadcast.
“Postcards from Buster,” is a daily show that combines animation and real footage to educate the audience about different ways of life. The disputed episode, “Sugartime,” which aired on Friday evening, showed the main character visiting a family that had two mothers.
The episode was pulled from PBS stations, but the PBS affiliate in Boston that produces the show provided the episode for any PBS station opting to air the show.
WOSU originally decided not to air the program in fear that it might be too controversial for viewers.
“We received a lot of phone calls, letters and emails,” said Cheryl Krebs Petrilla, a spokeswoman for WOSU. “Some were in support (of showing the episode) and some were not.”
Before the episode aired, the host of the locally produced current affairs talk show “Viewpoint,” made an introduction informing parents of the homosexual content that would be aired in the program.
WOSU received letters from several groups including the Ohio State Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Society, which attempted to persuade WOSU to air the episode to inform others of this type of lifestyle, said Jack Miner, president of the alumni society.
After reviewing the episode in early February, WOSU reversed their decision.
“We finally saw a version of it, we had a lot of discussions and decided that it was appropriate,” said Tom Rieland, the general manager for WOSU.
WOSU decided to air the program at 7 p.m. instead of the regularly scheduled 3:30 p.m. slot.
Petrilla said the reason for this is so parents would be more likely to be home at that time and could decide if they wanted their children to watch it or not. Parents would likely have been available if children had any questions or if they wanted to further explain the concept of the show.
“Our mission is to enrich lives through programming and community services that educate, inform, entertain and inspire,” Petrilla said. “(“Sugartime”) is consistent with our mission. We respect the rights of parents to make choices of what is appropriate for their children.”
Miner did not agree that this particular episode needed special treatment.
“The way (“Sugartime”) is being aired defeats the purpose of what the show is trying to do,” he said. “The series is trying to promote the idea that Buster is introducing different families, and pulling this episode out and handling it with kid gloves says, ‘This family is really different.'”
Miner said WOSU’s handling of the episode was an “overreaction,” and that “OSU has made a commitment for diversity, and the gay and lesbian community is part of that diversity, and it is appropriate that WOSU also follow that same example.”
Following the program, WOSU aired a special edition of “Viewpoint,” where the episode was discussed in detail. The program welcomed guests representing a variety of opinions on the subject.
“I think (this edition of “Viewpoint”) is a great opportunity to create adult dialogue on the issue and educate the community about issues of gay and lesbian people,” Miner said.
The response WOSU received upon showing “Sugartime” was primarily positive. Petrilla said there might be even more letters in the next few days.
“We were very pleased (with the feedback),” she said.
