The author and fearless fighter for freedom of expression wears Polito. Tales of the City originated as weekly stories in the San Francisco Chronicle, following the lives of gays and lesbians and their friends in the 70's. The stories were made into a popular series which aired on Public Television. The show was reviled by conservatives who turned the program into a gay-bashing diatribe against the Public Broadcasting System. Out of context clips, showing affection between same sex couples or banal nudity, were combined to create an accusatory weapon. PBS, bowing to pressure, did not choose to produce the second part of the series, which has aired to great acclaim on Showtime.