

It's all the rage among the 'mos to denigrate the "gay" American TV networks, such as Logo, Here! TV and the faltering Q Television Network. You've heard the rap before:
"They reinforce negative stereotypes. They don't show our lives. Their production values are a disgrace to right-brained queens everywhere. Their content is recycled, derivative of other sources, or redundant, given the existence of other channels like Bravo or E!"
But guess what, boys? We need these networks. We should support them and encourage them to put on realistic and entertaining gay programming that is relevant to our "community," insofar as there is one.
Why? Because although gains are being made, we still don't get quite a fair shake in the mainstream media.
Exhibit A, the first clip from "The Tony Danza Show" that will ever be played on MalcoVision. (And judging by Danza's ratings, possibly the last.)
Actor Anthony Rapp, one of the most talented performers in almost any medium who also happens to be an out gay man, stopped by this morning to promote his new book, "Without You
," a memoir that focuses on his 11-year association with the musical "Rent." The dominant themes of the book include Rapp's life as a gay man, and the loss of several friends to AIDS. The book jacket even mentions Rapp's partner, Rodney To.
So what was Danza interested in talking about? The death of Rapp's father.
The Washington Blade ran an editorial on Friday about the "straight-washing" of the news, a phenomenon that seems to cross over into some daytime talk shows.
Until it becomes second nature for straight America to talk to and about gays like we're just anybody else, there will be an important spot at the electronic hearth for Logo and its cousins.
[Watch video – 6:57, WMV format, high bandwidth]
[Watch video – 6:57, WMV format, low bandwidth]