Marshall should not advertise during Dr. Laura's program

As an alumnus of Marshall University, I am very disappointed in the school's choice to advertise during the "Dr. Laura" Schlessinger talk show currently airing on WOWK-TV13.

The language and misinformation that Laura Schlessinger, a talk show personality, spreads about the lesbian and gay community encourages prejudice and discrimination. Her use of terms like "biological error," "sexual deviant" and "destructive" to describe lesbians and gay men reinforce inaccurate stereotypes and create a climate of ignorance.

Schlessinger's words also are dangerous because her audience believes she is academically and professionally qualified to attack lesbians and gay men.

In fact, her Ph.D. is in physiology.

Yet, because she has a talk show and calls herself "Dr. Laura," her audience believes she can speak credibly about issues of sexual orientation, lesbian and gay psychology, and mental health issues related to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Nothing could be further from the truth.

According to Marshall's student handbook, "It is a goal of Marshall Univer-sity to provide an environment which is free from acts of harassment based on intolerance directed against individuals or groups." By sponsoring this television show, the university is, in fact, promoting intolerance against its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, faculty, staff and community.

If Marshall University is truly committed to its diverse student population and to higher learning, it will reconsider the placement of its advertisements during Schlessinger's show and renew its commitment to an inclusive and safe environment for all.

Kevin J. McClelland
Southeast Regional
Media Manager
Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation