The New York Times takes another
look at ABC's killed-before-it-aired reality show "Welcome to
the Neighborhood," in which racially and culturally diverse couples
tried to overcome their would-be neighbors' prejudices and win a
house. A gay couple, Stephen Wright and John Wright, with an
adopted child, won. As I
noted at the time, the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against
Defamation (GLAAD) joined those cautioning ABC against running the
show (some racial-grievance groups were upset). The Times piece
makes GLAAD's lack of support seem all the more ludicrous: one of
the anti-gay neighbors eventually admits he has a gay son, with
whom he is reconciled after getting to know the gay contestants. As
the article recounts:
For Stephen Wright, who was recruited for the series through his church, which has a predominantly gay membership, the outcome has been bittersweet. On the one hand, he has yet to achieve his goal of telling his family's story before a big audience. "We opened our souls and the life of our family, and we did it because we thought we could make a difference," he said.
But Mr. Wright said he took solace that through their participation in the series, he and his partner had had a positive impact on at least one relationship, that of Mr. Stewart and his son. "We said at the outset that if we changed one person's heart or mind, it would be worth it," he said. "We have empirical evidence we did that."
"And," he added, "we won a house."
Since this whole sad episode, GLAAD has come under new leadership. Here's hoping the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
More: I should note that the Times article suggests that the network may have pulled the show fearing that Christian conservatives (whose support ABC/Disney needed to promote its Narnia flick) would be upset that the gay couple won by gaining acceptance. ABC denies this, but I'd say if you think you'll tick off the social conservatives and the racial and gay activists, why run it?
Revisionist history: Former HRC spokesperson
Wayne Besen, picking up on the Times story, criticizes
"evangelists" for killing Neighborhood, a show that "was exactly
what America needs to see," but fails to mention that GLAAD and the
racial-grievance groups were most vocal in demanding the show not
be aired.