Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story

Date: 1995

Region: North America

Subject: Sexual Orientation

Medium: Television


Artist: National Broadcasting Company

Confronting Bodies: WAFF-TV

Dates of Action: 1995

Location: Huntsville, Alabama, USA

Description of Artwork: "Serving in Silence: The Margarethe Cammermeyer Story" is a television drama based on the true-life of Colonel Cammermeyer's discharge from the U.S. Army because of her lesbianism.

The Incident: A scene in the movie depicts a kiss between the lesbian couple of Margarethe Cammermeyer and her lover. The television station WAFF-TV omitted the kiss scene, which they deemed too controversial to air on television.

Results of Incident: Despite a Huntsville resident calling the station to complain, the program director refused to comment on the issue. The people of Huntsville have still not seen the scene.

Source: http://www.artnet.com/magazine_pre2000/news/rosenberger/rosenberger6-14-96.asp, Artistic Freedom under Attack and People for the American Way.