Was it wrong to lead viewers to believe that the homosexual heroes were heterosexual?

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

News Watch UPDATE

*** The Buzz ***

Many mainstream news media have failed to report that some of the more prominent heroes of the Sept. 11 attacks were gay. The omissions lead readers to believe that these people were heterosexual.

How relevant is it for journalists to mention someone's sexual orientation in not only this story, but all stories? How does it affect the context of the story by reporting someone's sexual orientation?

Join in the discussion and read what reporters and editors who wrote about these gay heroes are saying on The Buzz. News Watch Gay Buzz

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

!-- BEGIN TEASER--> While covering the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, many mainstream news media failed to report that some of the more prominent heroes were gay. The omissions lead readers to believe that they were heterosexual — essentially denying the role of gay heroes.

How relevant is it for journalists to mention someone's sexual orientation in not only this story but all stories? How does it affect the context of the story if sexual orientation is left out? If we begin including that someone is gay, do we also need to report that someone is heterosexual? Post your thoughts by filling out the form below.

What others are saying:

• "Withholding relevant details about these lives, their partners and families is unfair and hurtful to the people they loved. In our mission as journalists, it also denies readers and viewers information about the true identity of those who are in the news. It is the same as withholding information about the spouse, children and other features about the heterosexual heroes."
  — Robert Dodge, president of NLGJA [READ MORE]

• "Bottom line: most people do not think about sexual orientation in an abstract sense, only in terms of the gender of our partner, spouse or girl/boyfriend — past or present. It's important to mention the name and gender of those significant others — and thus their sexual orientation — whenever a news story opens the door on these important relationships."
  — Cathy Renna, news media director of GLAAD [READ MORE]

• "It was mentioned that they (victim Ronald Gamboa and his partner) were a couple and we didn't want to create the false impression that they were roommates. We didn't have to make the impression that we were hiding it. ... We felt bad about not knowing he was gay and we wanted to set the record straight."
  — Andrew Wolfson, reporter for The Courier-Journal

• "There was no reason for a discussion of it. (Graham Berkeley's) partner was his only known connection. Whether it was his boyfriend or brother, we didn't differentiate. ... We don't have to be too concerned with people's sexual orientation. It's 2001 - homosexuality isn't a taboo. There are gay men and women all over the world."
  — Jose Martinez, reporter for the Boston Herald

• "We tried to treat the information on every victim the same, like listing people or loved ones they left behind. We tried to treat them the same. ... The policy on person's sexual orientation is to mention it only if it is relevant. ... It was something like naming a person's spouse. (David Charlebois') article was treated like the rest of the 160 articles that we covered."
  — Keith Harriston, Deputy Metro Editor for The Washington Post

  ---

  
  Omitted sexual orientation:
  Los Angeles Times
  http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-091601chaplain.story

  Included sexual orientation:
  Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) news selections
  http://www.glaad.org/org/news.html

  HBO's Real Sports
  http://www.hbo.com/realsports/cmp/features.shtml#story_3_more

[Senator Pardek]

If one of these heroes was into group sex, would it be relevant?

[FormerLib]

These folks are still attempting to advance their perverted agenda by standing on the graves of the dead. Truly pathetic!

[Russell Scott]

When homosexuals "turn from there wicked ways", they will be real heros in the eyes of the only person who matters, Jesus Christ.

[Steven W.]

What GLAAD isn't telling people is that the homo (REALLY!)was the one who locked himself in the bathroom and spent the time talking to the 911 operator.

[Travis McGee]

Maybe some of the 9-11 heros have foot fetishes, or do it wearing scuba suits, shouldn't that be mentioned?

[MileHi]

Does that make them more heroic? Gimme a break...

[cherry]

What GLAAD isn't telling people is that the homo (REALLY!)was the one who locked himself in the bathroom and spent the time talking to the 911 operator.

Really?...what was his name...do you know?

[klee]

What is it these people expect? The media to list next to each victim's names their sexual orientation? The heroes werent restricted to those on the plane, but also trying to evacuate buildings. Include those people on the list, and the fact a relative few of the heroes were gay would be would be insignificant.

[M_Man]

What's the relevance of anyone's sexuality in this arena? Mabye at a bath house or at an orgy? Did these brave homos bewitch the hijackers? Seduce them in order to disarm them? I think their sexual peccadillos were irrelivant, as they should be everywhere- except in the privacy of their bedrooms.

[Abn1508]

ONe of the three guys who is known to have been involved in attacking the hijackers (Bingham, the rugby player) was gay. He was part of an all-gay rugby team.

My "take" on it is that their sexual orientation is of no relevance whatsoever. Trying to _make_ it relevant is assinine. And perverse.

Now in the case of Glick and Burnett, they've talked about their "wife(ves) and children." By the same token, if Bingham had a long-term partner, they should be mentioned. If, for example, they gave him a military burial (appropriate, he was acting as a member of the militia), his partner should get the flag.

Legally his _parents_ would, but his partner should.

[FUSSBALL]

The relevance is their agenda! They want the majority of Americans to beleive the homosexual population is larger than it really is. Homosexuals make up 10% of the population. But by spreading rumors that the NFL is full of homosexuals and that heroes of the 9/11 tragedy are homosexuals perpetrates their agenda.

[Lilly]

Is it ever right to be dishonest? Is it ever alright to be a homosexual/fornicator?

What does the Lord have to say?

Leviticus 18:22, 1st Corinthians 6:9...

CNLGLFG.com

[anniegetyourgun]

That's it....we need congressional action requiring that anyone mentioned by the media in any story must have their sexual orientation listed after their name.

I think it might work well to have the following folks co-sponsor the bill:
Barney Frank, D-MA, Homo
Ron Paul, R-TX, Hetero

[anniegetyourgun]

The 10% figure is one that the homosexual activists have been perpetrating for years. It's a lie.

[M_Man]

I doubt wether the Gay Caucus could stand to see their true numbers ennumerated in the free press- truth is they'd show that those who practice homosex are less than five percent of the population. Thats the truth that dare not speak it's name. They've buffaloed the compliant lame-stream media into thinking that their numbers count. Truth is there's less homos than Arab-Americans in America. Shhhhhh- Mums the word.

[FUSSBALL]

That was just a liberal guestimate on my part. Do you have an alternate number?

[VaBthang4]

[11th Earl of Mar]

I'm sure Joyselyn Elders does not want to miss out on the action. I'll bet that before too long she will be holding a press conference to proclaim that one or more of the heros masterbaited on a regular basis.