Letters

Some Support Letters

Well just thought I would share with you some of the letters sent to ABC & Time Magazine. If you want yours added to this page....please email me Linny.
Thanks again, Linda.

ONE FROM CHUCK

Ms. Hillier:
I attach a copy of an electronic mail message I sent to Jerry Heilman, President and General Manager of the WBMA TV station in Birmingham, AL, opposing Mr. Heilman's decision not to air the April 30 episode of "Ellen". Enjoy.

April 13, 1997
Mr. Heilman,
I oppose your decision to prevent the broadcast of the April 30 episode of the sitcom "Ellen". Your decision is a negative statement of discrimination. With this illogical and morally suspicious decision you are stating publicly that you do not respect the freewill of other human beings. This would indicate that you find yourself superior to others and free to dictate their lives and how they express themselves sexually, when doing so harms no one. No person may impose his/her will upon another. To do so is to commit a sin. To deny gay and lesbian individuals their right to express their sexuality is a sin. To prevent Ellen Degeneres from presenting this issue fictitiously on television is discrimination. Discrimination is unethical.

An individual human being is free to express his or her sexuality as he/she sees fit, so long as this expression does not violate the freewill of other human beings. Rape is wrong because it involves an extreme violation of freewill, among other things. However, when two consenting adults of the same gender engage in consensual sexual relations, their decision to do so harms no one. There is no violation of free will, therefore no wrong has been committed. To interfere where no wrong has been committed is improper. To prevent a person from exercising freewill is a violation of that individual's freewill, therefore wrong. You cannot legislate away that which you personally find distasteful. It matters not that you practice discrimination while quoting the Holy Bible or pretending to speak for God and/or Christ. Discrimination is wrong and so are freewill violations. Therefore any effort to deny gay and lesbian people their rights is a crime. The only instance in which humans are morally empowered to interfere in the actions of others is to prevent a freewill violation. Stopping a murderer from killing someone is an example, but to interfere in a negative fashion without justification is sinful.

I urge you to consider the logic of your decision. Realize that Truth is what matters most to the Creator and to oneself. Regard not the pressures of those around you who deceive themselves in pseudo-moralistic fervor. Many a person has fallen prey to the trap of denying their own sins, getting "religion", and villifying and abusing other people. This occurs because many people are afraid to face themselves and instead find it easier to see fault in other. Find the mote in your own eye before the beam in your neighbors eye, please.

It is wiser to look in the mirror and address one's own faults than to define oneself by discriminating and attacking other people.

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone..."
-Jesus Christ

Thanks very much for reading this. Sincerely

LETTER FROM CHRIS

Dear TIME,

I want to commend your magazine on its style and taste in having Ellen DeGeneres on the cover Monday. Ms. DeGeneres, lest people forget, is a talented actress who has her own unique character as an entertainer. The fact that she has come out as a lesbian now only adds to my appreciation of her as a creative artist and more importantly as a responsible human being. Rather than acting like "Ellen Morgan"'s coming out, as well as Ellen the real person, was some publicity stunt to simply boost the show, people should realize that "Ellen" consistently ranks high for ABC. Ellen DeGeneres is a gutsy, sensitive individual who came to a point in her life where she wanted to bring her audience into a new level of understanding of herself. It took courage and it took a real devotion to her fans.

As we can see from the ridiculous and desperate-sounding protests by the voices of the neo-puritans, she was making a big step, one that opened her up to a lot of hate-inspired, intolerant criticism. Do you really think this Falwell person watches "Ellen?" From his pompous demeanor these days, one might guess he watches videos of himself. Thank you, TIME, for the articles on Ellen and for the great cover. And to Ms. DeGeneres, I say THANK YOU for stepping forward and saying this timely message.
Sincerely,
Christopher

LETTER FROM HOPE
I am absolutely absolutely thrilled about ellen's coming out, and all the celebrity participation to help support your decision. More power to ABC, my new favorite network ever.
I will be hosting a LARGE party on the 30th for all my friends, each of whom is strongly in support of your courageous decision, and we will be taking note of which advertisers have supported you as well, in order to patronize their businesses. Please know that there are many many many people out here very pleased with the integrity of ellen's person and show, and your decision to air her creative preferences. Not to mention lots of us who are gay and in posession of disposable income! Thank you again, I will continue to do everything I can to support this show, its sponsors, and your network

ONE FROM BRIGITTE
Dear Mr. Iger,
I am writing to let you know that I fully support the 'coming out' episode of 'ellen' scheduled for April 30. Since the show started, 'ellen' has been one of the only shows I watch on TV. Now that the main character may 'come out' as a lesbian, I find the show not only entertaining but a major historical event.
The time has come for the people in this country to become more tolerant of each other and the 'coming out' episode of 'ellen' is a major step toward this goal. Thank-you for your support--I applaud your decision.
Sincerely,
Brigitte

Retta sent ABC a short and to the point letter.

I have been so disappointed in the past with ABC taking off a program and I won't bore you now with facts.
Please Don't Take Ellen off.

A letter from Deb

Please keep Ellen on the air!
I need her show, I count on seeing it each week! She has lifted my spirits when they were really low. Her humor has a healing quality that no other show has. There were several months that I was home on disability and I looked forward to seeing Ellen more than anything else.
I don't understand the rating system, but I do know that the ratings went up dramatically when the show changed from 8:00pm to 9:30pm. I think ABC needs to give this a hard look and give the airing of this show more credit. Ellen perfectly displays the best qualities of humor and good fun and serves as a role model for thousands of people; children, adults and seniors.
I know there is a lot of competition out there and that T.V. is a business -- my point is that this show in particular, above all other shows out there, helps lift the spirit, dissolve pain, and heal the soul. Please don't take Ellen from us; don't take her from me!

This one was sent by Myla.

Dear Robert,
I absolutely could NOT BELIEVE what I just read. You're taking the ONE SHOW I actually still own a television for. Ellen.
UNBELIEVABLE!
Here's why you shouldn't:
1. Ellen's brilliant. She's THE BEST COMEDIENNE ON TV. PERIOD.
2. You guys FINALLY get her into the right timeslot COME ON, 8PM was wrong and you guys knew it, THAT'S THE ONLY REASON why her ratings dropped.
3. And if you're gonna replace Arsenio, he was a LATE NIGHT CROWD PLEASER. OR PUT HIM ON AT 8PM. BUT *************LEAVE ELLEN ALONE!********************
4. The rest of the crap you have on that night, REPLACE THAT.
5. Who exactly do you poll when you rate? ELLEN is and continues to be THE FUNNIEST COMEDIENNE ON TV TODAY. I'm sick about this, and have e-mailed ALL OF MY FRIENDS and asked them to protest ABC and write to you as well.
You'll be getting plenty of e-mail from people just like me who CANNOT BELIEVE YOU DID THIS. UNBELIEVABLE. PLEASE DO NOT DO IT.
FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO PICK ON.
Myla

And this one from Chris

Dear Sir:
I am writing to protest in the strongest terms possible ABC's decision to pull "Ellen" off the air on Wednesday nights and replace it with Arsenio Hall's program.
This seems to me the worst programming decision ABC has made in many years. It is true that Ellen's ratings have not been top 10 in some time, but when ABC moved its timeslot to 9:30, the ratings increased dramatically, as you know. Does ABC truly think this washed-up, unctuous comic can replace Ellen?? Hall once captured a segment of the viewing audience, but this was during late night programming, when viewers had little to choose from. Hall was ofen guilty of shameless schmoozing and apparent phoniness on his show. The program deteriorated into a series of arm-pumping, juvenile antics that even his studio audience found tiring.
ELLEN is a quality show, with a talented and versatile performer at the helm, and it is a tragic mistake you guys are making in shoving her aside for Mr. Hall's latest comeback bid. But it is not too late to prevent this disaster from happening. I hope you will have a change of heart and give ELLEN a fairer chance at reaching her audience.
If you do go ahead with plans to substitute Hall's amateur night histrionics, the ratings will show you how lucky you have been with Ellen. Instead of the low to mid-20's in the Nielsen's, you are going to be looking at low 80's by March...
Please reconsider this hasty and unnecessary gamble. Respectfully yours,
a loyal viewer in Southwest Virginia,
Chris.
P.S. If Ellen DeGeneres wants her character to be portrayed as a lesbian, that is what you folks should have her to do. Your sponsors aren't going to pull out over it, and Donald Wildmon and his group will eventually shut up when America doesn't detonate their Sony's over one woman loving somebody. Gee whiz. Do the right thing! Support creative freedom. It's not about lifestyle choices or homosexuality.

More to come soon

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