Small signs can sometimes hint at substantive cultural shifts. The fact that hardcore anti-gay activists on the right are concerned that Fox News took at an ad in the program guide of the recent National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association conference in San Diego-honoring NLGJA, no less, for its "Commitment to Fair & Balanced Reporting"-is perhaps one such indication. Consternation that the GOP might be "Drifting 'Gay'-Ward" is another.
And on a lighter note: It's funny, but it's true; it's funny 'cause it's true.... It's "Gayliens!."
10 Comments for “Hints of Progess”
posted by Amicus` on
Small signs can sometimes hint at substantive cultural shifts
Either that, or that someone was asleep at the wheel and didn’t refuse the ad, with a note, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Does FOX have an active and working policy on anti-gay discrimination in the workplace? Were any openly gay FOX news reporters at the event?
posted by ETJB on
Is it a great evil, worthy of massive protests? Probably not. But probably not a great trend.
Does FOX anti-gay discrimination in the workplace? Were any openly gay FOX news reporters at the event?
Also, is it a good thing when FOX tells some other news organization that it is ‘fair and balanced’?
posted by Brian Miller on
Outright Libertarians and the Libertarian Party will both be attendees and sponsors of the Conservative Leadership Conference in Reno in October. . . not because we’re conservatives, but because we’re interested in spreading the message of liberty to the right and left alike.
The fact that CLC has no problem with gay Libertarians showing up at their event — and don’t mind putting our table next to Dick Armey’s table (an omnipresent source of amusement for all!) tells me that there is indeed a cultural shift. Not in the Republican party leadership, but in the opinions of many people who consider themselves “not-Democrats.”
posted by ETJB on
Do ORL and the LP attend progressive conferences?
posted by Brian Miller on
Yes, we do.
Interestingly, we tend to get a more hostile reception at “progressive” events than “conservative” ones.
posted by ETJB on
I am sure. Anyways, the one and only gay bar for the entire state of ND and west-central Minnesota closed a few months ago.
I really doubt taht it would be safe to go for a ‘mixed’ group outside of very liberal urban centers. In fact a few years ago we had a gay man and woman ejected from a bar in Fargo because the guy was gay.
posted by Brian Miller on
At the last “progressive” event I attended, I was blasted as “right wing” and “purist on gay stuff” simultaneously, without irony, by one progressive guy who went on and on about his principles (which apparently include selling out the gays to get socialized medicine, etc.)
Trust me, the right-wingers aren’t the only constituency happy to throw us under the bus!
In fact a few years ago we had a gay man and woman ejected from a bar in Fargo because the guy was gay.
I’m sure that if this was publicized and acted upon, the bar would come to regret it.
The gay venue isn’t going to die completely — there will always be a place for gay and gay-friendly spaces. But it will change and evolve as outness continues to move to the fore and fewer people seek “closet space” due to that dynamic.
posted by Bobby on
“Also, is it a good thing when FOX tells some other news organization that it is ‘fair and balanced’?”
—Of course it is! Every time I put on MSNBC or CNN all I see is liberals talking to other liberals about how bad conservatives/republicans are.
It’s not that we don’t like hearing what liberals have to say, we just like to see them challenged, questioned, debated. You think gun control is good? Fine, let Hannitty and Colmes QUESTION you. That’s a lot more interesting than some asshole like Keith Olberman or Larry King agreeing with everything you like to say.
PETA:”So I think meat should be banned.”
LARRY KING: “How interesting, tell me more.”
PETA: “Meat is evil, no one should eat meat.”
LARRY KING: So how do you go about stopping people from eating meat?
PETA: We kill them, one by one.
LARRY KING: Fascinating.
What kind of debate is that? You don’t have to be a genious to know why Fox News is the #1 rated cable news show.
posted by kittynboi on
“”You don’t have to be a genious “”
Comedy gold.
posted by kittynboi on
“”At the last “progressive” event I attended, I was blasted as “right wing” and “purist on gay stuff” simultaneously, without irony, by one progressive guy who went on and on about his principles (which apparently include selling out the gays to get socialized medicine, etc.)””
This sentiment is becoming increasingly common on the left, especially since 2004. Immediately after the election, many people on the left started posting articles and tirades blaming gays for Kerrys loss.
Minority homophobia, particularly among blacks and muslims, is also an issue that has fueled leftist homophobia in recent years, as scrutiny and criticism of black and muslim leaders over issues of sexism and homophobia gets the multiculutralist set all hot under the dreadlocks.
And while there are people on the left who don’t explicitly hate gays or actively want to sell them out, they have a double standard on us when it comes to the “purity” problem Brian mentioned. Its okay to be rigid and uncompromising on some issues like socialized medicine, but gay issues are considered expendebile, and even if you ARE gay, you’re not supposed to be uncompromising about gay issues.