Today, February 1, 2012 I saw on my Twitter & Facebook feed that OWN was promoting the Joel Osteen interview for Oprah's Next Chapter which aired in January.
I immediately posted a facebook comment and went to Oprah.com and also placed a comment, stating: (paraphrasing)
"I'm saddened to see that you're still promoting the Joel Osteen interview. Early in the Oprah Show you stated you wouldn't use the show as a platform for hate because of the skinhead show (paraphrasing) but why in 2012 do you feel that it is acceptable to allow and promote Joel Osteen to espouse his lgbt "hate?" This has consequences. There is a cause and effect pattern with this hate. Our kids are killing themselves. I thought that you would understand this?"
Oprah.com states that your comments are under review. So I kept refreshing the page for about an hour and saw other comments being posted except mine. I then went to facebook and my comment was still in the timeline for that show promotion but within a half hour it was taken off. I guess no constructive criticism is allowed to Oprah?
This is 2012 and it is still America, where freedom of speech still reigns. I wasn't cruel or harsh in my comments or my letter titled, "My Open Letter to Oprah, OWN." I'm trying to enlighten, trying to teach you Oprah that your show has consequences. It is a universal law, cause and effect. You must know this? Or is something else going on here?
How are we as a society going to move forward in our evolution if we're not able to freely express our opinions? This goes directly against the OWN mission. How is this uplifting?
I will NOT let this go! I understand that you're NOT gay and you can never fully understand what happens to US in society on a daily basis.
Our LGBT kids are killing themselves. It's an epidemic. Who is going to speak for them? Who is going to stand up for them?
I will!
In Peace,
John Steen