At times, The New York Times reads like The Gay Community News – actually, that would be all of the time. A December 10 story, “Gay Marriage Ban Inspires New Wave of Activists,” is typical.
The article is a puff-piece on the “new wave of advocates, shaken out of a generational apathy,” who have become involved in the homosexual movement during or following the success of Proposition 8 (California’s marriage-protection amendment), which overturned a state supreme court ruling imposing same-sex marriage.
The story quoted no fewer than 10 gay leaders or activists, among them: the executive director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the executive director of Freedom To Marry, a “video artist-actor turned gay activist,” a movie producer who’s organizing a “call in gay” day protest (which doubtless will be The Times’ next excuse to promote the movement), and a student at San Francisco State University who was inspired by “Milk,” about the life and times of the city’s first gay Supervisor.
In an article of well-over 1,000 words no one was quoted on the other side of the Proposition 8 battle.
The ballot question (an amendment to the state constitution) also inspired a new wave of pro-family activism, through coalition efforts like “Yes on 8 – Protect Marriage.”
Many of these newly minted pro-family activists and grassroots leaders – from all walks of life – intend to stay active. Will The Times do a profile piece on them, called “Victory of Traditional Marriage Inspires New Wave of Activists”? Get real.
As far as The New York Times is concerned, they are invisible.
It never displayed the least curiosity about who they are – 70% of African-Americans voted for Prop. 8 – or what inspires them. Are many of them outraged that the California Supreme Court may once again overturn the will of the people? You bet. Does The Times care? No way.
Another slogan to replace “All The News That’s Fit To Print,” inspired by “The Flintstones” – “We’ll Have A Gay Old Times.”
@nytimes.com
