LGBTQ History Erasure: Ken Burns Controversy

Ken Burns faces criticism for omitting LGBTQ history, particularly Baron von Steuben's sexuality. Segal and others argue this erasure misrepresents American history and disrespects LGBTQ contributions.

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Von Steuben’s Alleged Aspersion

Chroniclers have long dismissed that allegation as aspersion, originating from political competitors of von Steuben in 1777. Paul Lockheart, writer of The Drillmaster of Valley Forge, told Segal he does not believe the report to be true, and the Smithsonian has furthermore called it “unproven.”.

Segal adds that approving such a claims at stated value “would certainly need the customer to think Benjamin Franklin knowingly sent a pedophile to George Washington to educate our soldiers. Franklin was many things, however he was not a fool.”.

At the same time, veteran journalist Andy Humm adds, “Perhaps it’s because he fears the responses of his big benefactors or maybe it’s because Ken Burns is an effeminate heterosexual and defensive concerning that– yet Burns’ documentaries have never ever integrated appropriate LGBTQ content honestly. Whatever the factor, it is a disgrace. LGBTQ history is American history.”.

Burns’ protectors argue that his movies focus on “mainstream” historic agreement. Segal calls that justification obsoleted. “LGBT Americans have actually always belonged to our country’s story,” he insists. “We’re done being eliminated, sidelined, or misrepresented.”.

Burns’ Defense of Mainstream History

The controversy currently threatens to overshadow PBS’s front runner background brand name– and for Segal, it’s individual: “We combated too lengthy to be seen,” he claims. “We will certainly maintain requiring the precision our background deserves.”.

Franklin’s actual letter to Washington, which Segal consists of, paints von Steuben as a guy of “great credibility” and “army experience” whose “passion for our reason” brought him to America at his very own cost. Franklin urged Washington to treat him with “focus and positive notification.”.

Franklin’s Letter on Von Steuben

Philly Gay Information founder Segal, who has invested half a century fighting to make LGBTQ people noticeable in public life, states what makes this omission worse is that it originates from PBS– a taxpayer-funded organization trusted for reality. “Burns’ documentary correctly highlights von Steuben’s important duty in changing Washington’s soldiers and assisting win the battle,” he concludes. “However it finishes that portrayal with the earliest, most hazardous stereotype made use of against gay guys. That isn’t background. That isn’t education. It’s a blatant injustice to the reality, to customers, and to von Steuben’s heritage.”.

Segal, who famously interrupted Walter Cronkite on online Television in the 1970s to protest the media’s erasure of gay people, states he reached out to Burns’ group after being notified to an uncomfortable scene. “From my discussion with Burns’ team over the last month, it appears we agreed that the majority of reliable chroniclers now approve that Baron von Steuben would certainly be thought about a gay male by today’s understanding,” Segal creates. In his 2017 docudrama on the Vietnam Battle, there was no mention of Sgt. Leonard Matlovich– the most renowned LGBT service participant of that era,” Segal writes. Segal calls that excuse outdated. Philadelphia Gay News owner Segal, who has actually spent half a century dealing with to make LGBTQ individuals visible in public life, claims what makes this noninclusion worse is that it comes from PBS– a taxpayer-funded establishment relied on for reality.

Segal’s Concerns and Burns’ Team

“Franklin’s letter– in addition to the works of George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson– all depict von Steuben as a man of phenomenal stability and a real hero of the Transformation,” Segal says. “None of that balance or historical subtlety shows up in Burns’ collection.”.

Segal, who notoriously interrupted Walter Cronkite on real-time TV in the 1970s to oppose the media’s erasure of gay individuals, states he reached out to Burns’ group after looking out to an unpleasant scene. “From my discussion with Burns’ group over the last month, it seems we agreed that most credible chroniclers now approve that Baron von Steuben would be considered a gay male by today’s understanding,” Segal composes. “That is never ever pointed out in the documentary. They run the risk of eliminating the truth that a gay male played a significant and indispensable role in establishing this nation.”

Pattern of LGBT Erasure

The activist says the trouble isn’t limited to this film. “In his 2014 collection The Roosevelts, he ran the gauntlet for omitting Eleanor Roosevelt’s close and well-documented relationship with Lorena Hickok. In his 2017 docudrama on the Vietnam War, there was no mention of Sgt. Leonard Matlovich– one of the most popular LGBT service member of that age,” Segal writes. “Taken together, these choices develop an uncomfortable pattern: revealing America that LGBT individuals don’t exist.”.