Today, Melissa joined five other elected officials in signing a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging an investigation of a Puerto Rican television program for the excessive use of anti-gay language. Signing on to the letter were also City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez and Council Members Danny Dromm, Rosie Mendez and Jimmy Van Bramer.
The show, Super Xclusivo, which also airs in New York City on the network WAPA America, has been criticized by LGBT activists for the use anti-gay slurs, and complaints have been filed with the FCC, which regulates radio and television networks. Unfortunately, the program has only increased the use of this offensive language following the complaints.
As the letter points out, this type of hate speech can lead to violence against the LGBT community, and is of great concern, particularly in the context of high-profile hate crimes in both Puerto Rico and New York City.
Below is a copy of the letter:
institute an economic boycott of their tourist industry and hit them where it hurts–in the pocketbook!
I think our elected officials should express these concerns to the sponsors of this program. This is not a free speech issues. The sexist comments on this TV show is paid for by you and I whenever we buy one of their sponsors’ products.
If our elected officials could send out a list of sponsors along with their products and email addresses, we could let these companies know that supporting this type of oppression will hurt them in the market place.
Good move. That show pretends they are the guardians of culture and can promote despicable language while wearing an innocent face of “Aqui no ha pasado nada.”