Thursday, February 24, 2005

Postcard from Buster

I gather many of you have heard already about the "Postcards from Buster" show on PBS concerning several stations not airing an episode were our animated rabbit friend visits a couple of lesbian couples. Well, glad to report that out here in dear old Red State conservative Arizona, it ain't as unfriendly as feared!:

LOCAL PBS STATION KUAT DEMONSTRATES COMMITMENT TO REPRESENTING THE LGBT COMMUNITY IN THEIR PROGRAMMING

Many of you probably heard the statement by the nation's new education secretary denouncing PBS for spending public money on a cartoon with lesbian characters, saying many parents would not want children exposed to such lifestyles. The not-yet-aired episode of "Postcards From Buster" shows the title character, an animated bunny named Buster, on a trip to Vermont -- a state known for recognizing same-sex civil unions. The episode features two lesbian couples, although the focus is on farm life and maple sugaring.

PBS subsequently decided not to distribute the episode, named "Sugartime" to its 349 affiliate stations. However, the Boston public television station that produces the show, WGBH, does plan to make the "Sugartime!" episode available to other stations. Local PBS station KUAT will be airing the episode Thursday, February 24th at 3:30p.m.

KUAT also airs the program "In the Life", a national public television news magazine for the LGBT community monthly, the last Friday of every month. For February, "In the Life will air Friday, February 25th at 11:00 p.m.