"Tongues Untied"
- Artist/Author/Producer:Marlon Riggs
- Confronting Bodies:American Family Association and Christian Coalition
- Dates of action:1991
- Location:Alexandria, Virginia
- Description of the Art Work
- Directed by Marlon Riggs, the film is a critically acclaimed,
prize-winning examination of the lives of black gay men. Using a blend
of poetry, narrative, dance, rap, music and social commentary, it
examines the homophobia and racism affecting gay African-Americans.
- Description of incident
- The American Family Association launched a long campaign against public
broadcasting in retaliation for PBS's decision to air the film, "Tongues
Untied" as a part of the independently produced P.O.V series. The NEA
provided a $5,000 grant for the production of "Tongues Untied" along with
$250,000 to the P.O.V. series on PBS. The AFA and the Christian
Coalition applied pressure to PBS supporters and Congress.
- Results of incident
- "Tongues Untied" aired in July of 1991, but many PBS member stations
decided against airing the film, resulting in nearly half of all
television households not having access to the film.
The FCC received a few indecency complaints against stations airing the
film.
Source:Artistic Freedom Under Attack 1992