“Out” Magazine Runs Hit Job on Gay Republicans
Article on gay Republicans fails to source even ONE gay Republican!
In the May issue of “Out” Magazine, writer Charles Kaiser does an amazingly poor job of covering gay Republicans in Washington, DC. The article, called “Washington’s Gay War,” adds up to nothing more than a smear campaign against gay Republicans. Read it here
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Astoundingly, the “reporter” failed to talk to one single gay Republican for the article! Even mainstream bloggers have noticed. Chris Crain, former editor of the Washington Blade, took the words right out of our mouth:
“But talk about an appallingly bad job…Author Charles Kaiser (”The Gay Metropolis”) was the one tasked with shedding some insight on the phenomenon of closeted gay Republicans. So who did he talk to: Barney Frank, outing activist/ blogger Mike Rogers, an unnamed Democratic political consultant and a gay Washington Post reporter.
What about an actual living, breathing gay Republican (closeted or otherwise)? Wouldn’t they be at least relevant? Could Kaiser not find the number for Log Cabin?”
But I suppose actually talking to a gay Republican for this article would have distracted from the titillating stereotype Mr. Kaiser was trying to portray. One of the lead sentences in the article says it all:
“Welcome to gay Washington in the 21st century, where the gay Democrats are proud and out on the Hill and in the lobbying firms on K Street, while many gay Republicans still cower in the closet…”
It’s that simple, huh? Gay Republicans hide in the closet while gay Democrats are “proud and out.” When Log Cabin’s national office contacted “Out” Magazine to ask about writing a letter to the editor to rebut Kaiser’s biased reporting, we were told it couldn’t run until the August issue!
Contact the editors at “Out” and tell them they should expect more from their “reporters.” You can reach Managing Editor Joe Mejia at (212) 242-8100 or joe.mejia@planetoutinc.com You can also e-mail the author of the piece, Charles Kaiser, directly at charles@charleskaiser.com
The Cat’s “Out” of the Bag
Readers React to Out Magazine’s
Hit Job on Gay Republicans
With Out Magazine’s bias revealed, readers are expressing their opinion of the article on gay Republicans which ran in the May issue…the one where the reporter failed to quote a single gay Republican! He never bothered to call Log Cabin for a comment or to be put in touch with gay Republicans who would actually counter the stereotype he was trying to create.
Out told Log Cabin’s national office that a letter-to-the-editor responding to the piece couldn’t run until the August issue.
But, here’s a small sample of the reactions that readers have already emailed to the magazine’s editors and the author of the piece, Charles Kaiser:
“The story on gay Republicans was a great piece of literature. Heroes, villains, good, evil, mystery and even romance. I just had one question about the plot; how come there are no actual gay Republicans in the story?”
“Just a note to say, ‘I am Proud and Out…and Republican.’ I am not only a Gay Republican, but Hispanic, Christian and US Army Veteran.”
“a simple google search could have produced me - a bush appointee, and gay republican. come on, your work isn’t journalism it is political advocacy! hundreds and hundreds of journalists know me and my partner…I couldn’t be more out…”
“I saw your piece on Washington ’s Gay War. We are not, dear sir, cowering in the corner…I hope, in the future, your publication presents a view of the GLBT that is more fair and balanced, not to mention accurate.”
“I am a Republican political consultant in DC…and an openly gay man. Your piece on Gay Republicans in Out was little more than a shoddy hit piece. If you were interested in talking about gay Republicans in DC you could have actually reached out to folks like myself – who aren’t ‘cowering in the closet.’ You should be ashamed for penning this hit job and Out Magazine should be embarrassed for running your article.”
“Oh brother. I am surprised that there is still an OUTlet for a ‘journalist’ to write a feature on something about which he knows nothing; which also happens to be littered with dime store stereotypes and preconceived notions. I definitely needed a shower after reading such a gossipy feature.”
“We are not, dear sir, cowering in the corner. I am transgender, a Republican, a combat veteran, a member of the Log Cabin Republicans and someone who is working for those who come after me, whenever and where ever I am able to.”
“Could you have tried to talk to a few Log Cabin members (like me) before you published your article about gays in the GOP??? There are over 1000 out Log Cabin members right here in NYC…you could have spoken to a few of us before running an article quoting only Democrats on the record. Diversity is a wonderful thing. Try it sometime.”
If you haven’t read the article, check it “OUT” for yourself.
Please contact Out and tell them they should expect more from their “reporters.” You can reach Managing Editor Joe Mejia at (212) 242-8100 or joe.mejia@planetoutinc.com You can also e-mail the author of the piece, Charles Kaiser, directly at charles@charleskaiser.com
Contribute now to Log Cabin Republicans so we can
make our voices heard and counter bias like this.
Comment by Kevin N. — April 25, 2008 @ 5:08 am