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"Balancing" Prejudice – The Fine Art of Challenging Bigotry
Submitted by E. Ross on Wednesday, 13 August 2008 – 3:52 PMNo Comment
If Anchorage hosted a Flat Earth Conference, would local reporters call the US Geological Society for a quote from the “opposing side” and show both “opinions” as equally valid?
Of course not. The Flat Earthers are hopelessly out of touch with modern reality. No amount of balanced coverage will convince them that the earth is round, and the vast majority of Anchorage residents don’t need convincing.
But when Love Won Out comes to town in September, with their ridiculous “ex-gay” claims and unsuccessful methods for suppressing same-sex attraction, will the mainstream media look to the gay community for “balance?”
Probably. Will they present the prejudice and the acceptance as equally valid “opinions?” Yes, unfortunately.
A Flat Earth Conference would be absurd and harmless. Love Won Out is also absurd, but their programs cause serious harm to young adults and their families.
What if we don’t respond? Would that limit the media attention: no controversy = no story?
Maybe. But there are risks to staying silent. The bigots would control the message. The reporters would quote the outrageous claims as truth. The youth at the conference would not see parents who love and accept their gay kids. Our allies would not see us stand up for ourselves.
What do we risk by responding?
Anything we do will increase the media attention they receive. They will use that attention to promote their reactionary agenda, and to raise money for anti-gay programs.
These conferences are often timed to coincide with gay or political events. The Orlando conference was held during Gay Days at Disney World. The conference after Anchorage is scheduled for Denver on Nov. 7-9, the site of the Democratic Convention (in a swing state) just days after the election.
What is the significance of Anchorage this September?
Probably the election. Alaskans have plenty of good reasons to vote for Democrats this fall, on both the state and federal levels. The national media is portraying Alaska as a potential swing state.
Will the local conservatives welcome an opportunity to use gay equality as a wedge issue, to rally the religious vote for McCain and Stevens and Young out of “gay panic?” You bet they will.
So how do we address the prejudice without giving it validity?
Here are suggestions from civil rights groups and media experts:
Educate the press about anti-gay groups, and they will use that knowledge to frame better stories.
Be respectful and family-positive if we do anything at the church on the day of the conference.
Hold outreach and media workshops during the year, not only as a reaction to specific anti-gay events.
Participate in community diversity events and build alliances with civil rights and progressive groups.
Share the truth of our lives with the wider community, and they will learn to see us as friends, neighbors and co-workers, not as sins.
Be creative – use this as another opportunity to celebrate our families, our communities and our personal freedom as openly gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people.
Will the majority of Anchorage residents recognize the ex-gay lies as absurd “flat earth” prejudice?
I hope so.
