The question of a question
As you know, I write a question-and-answer column about entertainment which runs in newspapers around the country. And some time back I received a letter asking this: I know it is a delicate question to be asked these days, but one that I'd like to have answered. Is there are regulation out there that says gays must be represented on television shows? I quit watching three shows because they made me sick seeing gay men dating, kissing, etx. At first I decided not to answer the question, either directly (as I sometimes do) or in my column. I did not want to give this person a voice. But, as time passed, it seemed more appropriate to answer it, especially considering the backlash against the children's show "Arthur" over its inclusion of a gay couple, and over Gillette having a young transgender man in an ad. I may also have gone back to it because of Pride Month. After all, in recent days there have been even more issues in that time: the White House bannin