WLGBT in Cincinnati

Note: This free article is a part of my ongoing series of content in celebration of Pride Month. Pride Month is celebrated each year during the month of June in honor of those who fought for LGBTQ+ rights beginning with the Stonewall Riots in 1969.

Synopsis - WKRP in Cincinnati 

This American sitcom features employees at a perpetually struggling radio station in Cincinnati Ohio. 

Commentary 

There were no gay characters, that I am aware of, on WKRP in Cincinnati. However, that does not mean that the subject was not touched upon during the course of the show. In fact, Season 1 Episode 3 Les on the Ledge finds news reporter Les Nessman banned from the locker room of the Cincinnati Reds when another reporter refers to him as a "queer duck" which a player misunderstands and then believes that Les is gay.

Fearing for his career and reputation, Les climbs out on a ledge intending to kill himself. His co-workers offer mixed reactions. His station manager, Andy Travis, becomes visibly upset at the mention of the word gay. However, it is the modern, open-minded secretary Jennifer Marlowe who expresses the opinion that "it's nobody's business if he's gay". Les' best friend Herb Tarlek goes back and forth on the issue but finally assures Les that  "it's okay if you're gay". By the end of the episode the misunderstanding is righted and it's back to business as usual for all concerned. 

Re-watching the episode for this brief article, I see how it would be problematic today. Many of the things that were said and implied would not be allowed to be aired now - such as Johnny Fever convincing Herb that Jennifer is a transsexual  in order to get Herb to stop making unwanted sexual advances at her. Although it wasn't handled in the best light, I think that this was a groundbreaking episode for addressing the stigma of homosexuality in the 1970's. 

I actually got to meet Richard Sanders, the actor who played Les Nessman, about 5 years ago at my day job as a Move Coordinator and coordinated his move from Anacortes, WA to Woodinville, WA. I was honored to be able to talk about this episode with him and how it had an effect on me when I was a young man struggling with my own sexuality. I think Herb Tarlek put is best when he said "it's okay if you're gay". 

- Carolina Dean