GLAAD Joins Media Matters, National Organizations to Demand Honest Media Coverage of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
February 24, 2010
GLAAD has joined Media Matters for America and other national organizations to demand fair and accurate coverage of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell from mainstream media outlets.
(To read Media Matters’ full press release, click here)
Media Matters also published a comprehensive review of the myths and falsehoods media conservatives have pushed in their efforts to prevent a repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) law to its website.
Among the other organizations and activists who have signed on to an open letter that calls on media outlets to cover DADT fairly and accurately are Courage Campaign’s Rick Jacobs, Human Rights Campaign’s Joe Solmonese, Knights Out’s Becky Kanis, National Center for Lesbian Rights’ Kate Kendall, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s Rea Carey, National Security Network’s Heather Hurlburt, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network’s Aubrey Sarvis, Servicemembers United’s Alex Nicholson, Truman National Security Project’s Rachel Kleinfeld, VoteVets’ Jon Soltz, and Lt. Dan Choi, US Army Infantry Officer and Arabic Linguist.
If you see Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell coverage in the media that misses the mark, contact GLAAD’s National News team at: nationalnews@glaad.org. Be sure to include the outlet’s name, the date of the problematic coverage and a brief synopsis of the offense.
Be sure to log onto GLAADblog.org for the latest updates on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in the media.
Related Posts:Congresswoman Foxx Claims Matthew Shepard Hate Crime Murder Was “A Hoax”
April 29, 2009
Here’s what Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) had to say on the floor of the House of Representatives today:
“The hate crimes bill that’s called the Matthew Shepard Bill [sic] is named after a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed. But we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn’t because he was gay. The bill was named for him, the hate crimes bill was named for him, but it’s, it’s really a hoax, that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills.”
GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano responded in a statement released today:
Congresswoman Foxx’s comments are repugnant and should be condemned by all fair-minded people in the strongest possible terms. We urge media to expose Foxx’s falsehood and her malicious disregard for the basic facts of this case.
Just the other day we saw Glenn Beck, the host of Fox News’ Glenn Beck Program, allow Sandy Rios, president of the anti-gay Culture Campaign, to perpetuate the same false and hurtful claim.
However, as you can see here and here, GLAAD debunked the ABC News reporting YEARS ago. Here is a quote from former GLAAD Executive Director, Joan M. Garry, in a November 2004 press release:
This piece says much, much more about 20/20 than it does about the murder of Matthew Shepard. 20/20’s misleading oversimplifications and distortions do a tremendous disservice to a complicated case. This simply is not a credible piece of journalism.
Take a moment and read through GLAAD’s “10 QUESTIONS ABOUT ABC’S 20/20 SHOW ON MATTHEW SHEPARD” for more information.
It’s unfortunate that many conservatives and conservative media outlets are twisting the facts are mis-reporting both the story of Matthew Shepard and the impact of the pending hate crime legislation.
For instance, here is Molly Henneberg who, “uncritically reported the false claim made by religious groups that the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act would allow individuals or groups to “be prosecuted for their religious beliefs.”
Even on the local level, you can find reports like the below from Texas, where KTBB AM 600’s Garth Maier takes listeners’ calls and falsely claims the legislation could “potentially criminalize preaching against homosexuality,” and that its “opening up a can of worms.”
GLAAD is continuing to monitor the media for mis-reporting like you see above. We’re reaching out, asking for corrections and clarification, urging members and supporters to take action where necessary, and working to ensure fair, accurate and inclusive coverage of this and other issues important to the LGBT community.
Huckabee Parrots Coulter’s Defamatory Phrase “pro-sodomy” on Fox
January 12, 2009
The caustic author Ann Coulter stopped by the Fox News Channel as she continued to peddle her new book, Guilty: Liberal “Victims” and their Assault on America. She started her press expedition on CBS News and NBC News the week of January 5.
Her latest appearance was on Huckabee, the show featuring former Arkansas Governor and GOP presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee. In a ridiculous exchange captured by Media Matters for America, Huckabee tried to assure Coulter that he is conservative enough to get her vote should he decide to throw his hat into future presidential races.
In trying to disprove Coulter’s notion that the former governor is not, in Coulter’s words, “pro-sodomy” and “pro-gay,” Huckabee told Coulter. “I am definitely not pro-sodomy. I promise. Scout’s honor.”
Huckabee was apparently responding to Coulter’s column from December 2007, when she questioned Huckabee’s statements supporting the Supreme Court decision in Lawrence v. Texas, which decriminalized being gay in all 50 states:
“Huckabee claims he opposes gay marriage and says Scalia is his favorite justice, but he supports a Supreme Court decision denounced by Scalia for paving the way to a ‘constitutional right’ to gay marriage. I guess Huckabee is one of those pro-sodomy, pro-gay marriage, pro-evolution evangelical Christians. No wonder Huckabee is the evangelical liberals like.”
It’s unfortunate that Mike Huckabee felt it necessary to dredge up old defamatory remarks by Coulter and feature them on his new Fox News Channel media platform. Should mainstream media ever consider painting Huckabee as moderate in future reports, they would do well to keep this item on hand.
Media Reporting on Palin’s LGBT Record Misses the Mark
September 23, 2008
Despite Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s clearly stated opposition to providing spousal benefits to same-sex couples, mainstream news media have been reporting her 2006 veto of such a bill as a sign of her support for LGBT people.
The Associated Press, in an August 29th article, wrote:
She brings a strong anti-abortion stance to the ticket and opposes gay marriage—constitutionally banned in Alaska before her time—but exercised a veto that essentially granted benefits to gay state employees and their partners.
The article makes no mention of the veto being exercised due to the law being unconstitutional, nor does it reference any of Palin’s statements against offering benefits to same-sex couples.
Governor Sarah Palin (R-AK)
They note that while Palin did in fact veto a bill in 2006 that would have prohibited the state from providing spousal benefits to gay couples:
“[S]he stated that she did so because the Alaska attorney general had advised her that the bill was unconstitutional, not because she supported spousal benefits for same-sex couples. She has also reportedly said that she would support a ballot question banning benefits for same-sex couples.”
Palin made her opposition to extending the benefits to same-sex couples evident on a number of occasions. According to Media Matters, when she vetoed the bill and ensured that same-sex couples would receive benefits, her office issued a statement expressing her personal opposition to it:
The Governor’s veto does not signal any change or modification to her disagreement with the action and order by the Alaska Supreme Court. It is the Governor’s intention to work with the legislature and to give the people of Alaska an opportunity to express their wishes and intentions whether these benefits should continue.
Additionally, they note that in a 2006 questionnaire issued to Alaska’s gubernatorial candidates, Palin again stated her opposition to offering spousal benefits to same-sex couples, and expressed her opposition to marriage equality, stating that if elected one of her top priorities would be:
Preserving the definition of “marriage” as defined in our constitution.
More recently, some media outlets have given attention to other allegations about Palin’s anti-LGBT connections, including her church, the Wasilla Assembly of God, sponsoring an ex-gay conference and stories that indicate Palin asked if she had the authority as Mayor to ban books from Wasilla’s public library, including the book “Pastor, I am Gay.”
Media have a responsibility to report on how the candidates have addressed a broad range of issues, including those that affect the LGBT community. GLAAD will continue to keep a close eye on media coverage leading up to the election, and keep you informed about how they frame our issues.
