NEW YORK--A spokesperson for the letter D announced Monday that the
 consonant is withdrawing sponsorship from Sesame Street following a 
 Children's Television Workshop announcement that a homosexual muppet
 will soon join the show's cast. 
 
 "The letter D is proud to have brought you many wonderful Sesame 
 Street episodes throughout the program's 28-year history," said Patricia 
 Willis, public-relations director for D. "But the letter D does not 
 condone the sort of morally questionable lifestyles that Sesame Street 
 is advocating with the introduction of this new character. It can no 
 longer in good conscience associate itself with the show." 
 Willis said D's withdrawal is effective immediately, and applies 
 to both capital and lower-case versions of the letter. 
 
 The gay muppet, "Roger," will be introduced on Sesame Street Dec. 
 23, CTW director Leslie Charren said. Thus far, no other sponsors have 
 pulled out, though the number seven has requested an advance tape of
 the episode before it makes a decision. 
 
 Many public-television insiders believe D's withdrawal was 
 motivated by a desire not to alienate religious conservatives, a section 
 of the population that employs the letter frequently. 
 "D is for, among other things, demagoguery, dogma and doctrine, 
 words crucial to right-wing groups like the Christian Coalition," said 
 Yale University political-science professor J. Wright Franklin. "It is 
 likely that D felt it could ill afford to offend such a large segment of 
 its users." 
 
 While a long-term replacement for D has not yet been secured by 
 Sesame Street, the number three will temporarily fill in for it in a 
 number of the show's animated shorts. Other pieces will simply skip from
 C to E, with vocalists stretching out C into two syllables to match the 
 rhythm of the alphabet song. 
 
 Sesame Street is stung by the sudden departure of its longtime 
 supporter. Speaking to reporters, cast member Cookie Monster said: "Me 
 disappointed letter D choose to end relationship with Sesame Street due 
 to pressure from extremely vocal minority. We accused of endorsing 
 deviant lifestyle. Me say homosexuality natural, not immoral. Diversity 
 and enrichment. That's good enough for me." 
 
 
 From: Nathan

Wil Stark, wstark04 (at) pobox _dot_com

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