Red eye’s coverage of gays is misleading
Red eye’s coverage of gays is misleading
Copyright by Joey McDonald and The Chicago Free Press
(The following letter was sent to Red Eye)
I was appalled by a request in a recent article that appeared in Red Eye (“Take Your Best Shots,” April 27) recruiting people to take photos of the various events during Chicago’s summer festival season, in particular the Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade.
While I am in no way ashamed of my gay family and friends, nor of how they should chose to present themselves in the parade, you do our community a grave disservice by requesting people take pictures of, as your writer put it, ‘”The most outrageous parade entry” at the Pride Parade. What about the most inspiring (gay student groups) or the most heartwarming or affirming (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays or various religious institutions)? Why does the media continue to try to titillate the population at large with what is “outrageous” in our community?
Would you ask your readers to capture a picture of the drunkest contingent at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade—because everyone knows the Irish drink too much? How about the most Mafia-like group during at Italian event, because all Italians are in the mob? Or how about capturing the most Afro-centric group at the Bud Biliken Day Parade?
No, you don’t, because you know it’s just not right.
The request makes you no better than any of the right-wing groups that continue to say that we do not deserve to be treated equally under the law. They say we have an agenda, but it looks like it’s the “straight media” that truly has an agenda—to show that the gay and lesbian community is a fringe element of society, full of outlandish and outrageous freaks. Try being a bit more fair in your coverage, whether you agree with us or not, and stop treating us like a carnival side show.
Joey McDonald
Chicago
(Following is Red Eye’s response)
Thanks for your comments. I’m concerned that you perceive Metromix as the “straight” media and I’d like to assure you that our photo suggestions were not meant to offend you, your family or any group or individuals. Our playful Metromix tone is meant to embrace all of our readers, regardless of orientation, race, ethnicity, etc. While I stand by our festival story that ran in the Metromix print edition, I also take your comments to heart and will discuss your note with other Metromix producers.
Rebecca Palmore
metromix.com events producer
Copyright by Joey McDonald and The Chicago Free Press
(The following letter was sent to Red Eye)
I was appalled by a request in a recent article that appeared in Red Eye (“Take Your Best Shots,” April 27) recruiting people to take photos of the various events during Chicago’s summer festival season, in particular the Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade.
While I am in no way ashamed of my gay family and friends, nor of how they should chose to present themselves in the parade, you do our community a grave disservice by requesting people take pictures of, as your writer put it, ‘”The most outrageous parade entry” at the Pride Parade. What about the most inspiring (gay student groups) or the most heartwarming or affirming (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays or various religious institutions)? Why does the media continue to try to titillate the population at large with what is “outrageous” in our community?
Would you ask your readers to capture a picture of the drunkest contingent at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade—because everyone knows the Irish drink too much? How about the most Mafia-like group during at Italian event, because all Italians are in the mob? Or how about capturing the most Afro-centric group at the Bud Biliken Day Parade?
No, you don’t, because you know it’s just not right.
The request makes you no better than any of the right-wing groups that continue to say that we do not deserve to be treated equally under the law. They say we have an agenda, but it looks like it’s the “straight media” that truly has an agenda—to show that the gay and lesbian community is a fringe element of society, full of outlandish and outrageous freaks. Try being a bit more fair in your coverage, whether you agree with us or not, and stop treating us like a carnival side show.
Joey McDonald
Chicago
(Following is Red Eye’s response)
Thanks for your comments. I’m concerned that you perceive Metromix as the “straight” media and I’d like to assure you that our photo suggestions were not meant to offend you, your family or any group or individuals. Our playful Metromix tone is meant to embrace all of our readers, regardless of orientation, race, ethnicity, etc. While I stand by our festival story that ran in the Metromix print edition, I also take your comments to heart and will discuss your note with other Metromix producers.
Rebecca Palmore
metromix.com events producer
posted by Carlos T Mock at 4:33 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home