LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
GLAADLINES: Same Facts, Different Take |
Two weeks after 15 religious political extremist groups launched an ad campaign claiming lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people could change their sexual orientation, several major media outlets have examined that egregious claim at some length - with varied results. Here are some of the highlights:
Nightline Forrest Tucker, substituting as host of ABCs Nightline on July 30, moderated a debate between Andrew Sullivan, editor of the New Republic and Center for Reclaiming America Director Janet Folger, who engineered the ad campaign. Sullivan asked repeatedly whether Folger supports laws allowing imprisonment for having sex with someone of the same gender. After Folger gave several non-responsive answers, Sawyer pressed, "Ms. Folger, forgive me. He is asking the direct question, 'Do you support laws that advocate the imprisonment of people who engage in homosexual behavior?" Folger answered, "I guess if youre looking at sodomy laws, there are sodomy laws on the books that I very much support." USA Today An August 4 Life section cover story examines various aspects of the so-called "ex-gay" movement - while firmly stating that the bulk of scientific opinion questions its effectiveness. Reporter Kim Painter writes that the American Psychological Association "says that theres no evidence such therapy works and that it may do more harm than good." Sadly, the piece carried a thoughtless headline on one of four accompanying sidebars. The headline, about an "ex-gay" couple, reads "Once gay, now theyre a family" - giving the incorrect impression that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals do not have families. Overall, Painter makes strong points about the true nature of the ad campaign, and points out potential dangers of "conversion therapies," noting that they can do active harm to individuals and their families. Washington Post A July 31 article examining Washington, DC-area "ex-gay" groups leads with a vignette of "ex-gay" Corey Welch, who "escaped from what he considers the clutches of a depraved underworld and entered the welcoming arms of the Transformation Christian Ministries" - a group that reporter Hanna Rosin says, "shepherds gay men and women away from the 'devils temptation." The Village Voice An August 11 article by Mark Schoofs, entitled, "Straight to Hell: When Gays Go Hetero, the Consequences Can Be Anything But Redemptive," says some survivors of the "ex-gay" programs call them 'psychological terrorism.'" Yet, theyve "suddenly gained media credibility, simply because conservative political groups, such as the Christian Coalition and the Family Research Council, shelled out $200,000 for a high-profile ad campaign." Philadelphia Inquirer "Christian gays caught in a conflict," reads the front-page headline. "Some in Philadelphia choose faith over sexuality." Like the Washington Post report, the article describes a support group for persons unhappy with their sexual orientation. Except for a quote by GLAAD Communications Director Jennifer Einhorn, the Inquirer devotes only perfunctory space to telling the other side of the story. The New York Times In the August 2 "Backtalk" column, former Green Bay Packer David Kopay - the first professional football player to say hes gay - tells current Green Bay Packer Reggie White that "Sexual repression, alcoholism, spousal abuse, child abuse, drug addiction, loneliness, hate and ignorance are the real enemies we face. Lighten up on gay folks; we are not the enemy." White repeatedly has made homophobic comments and is featured in one of the conservative ads. The GLAADAlert and GLADDlines are the weekly activation tools of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation in the media as a means of challenging homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 8, No. 11, August 14, 1998. |