The "virtual" sex scandal involving former Florida Rep. Mark Foley is a chilling intersection of power, politics, and secrecy, made more appalling by the victimization of a number of young men. In the days since journalists first reported the e-mails and instant messages between Foley and some former pages, we've learned a great deal about the life Foley apparently tried to hide from a number of his constituents. Even House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL) admitted to reporters that he was "deceived" by Foley during his time on Capitol Hill.
Having seen much of the reporting about Foley's actions, it's also easy for media consumers to be deceived about issues related to Foley's actions; namely, pedophilia and sexual orientation. As details emerged about his personal life — regarding alcoholism, charges of soliciting minors, and his alleged abuse by a priest when he was a teen — the potential for confusion grew. A flurry of conflicting messages and at times inappropriate terminology certainly contributed to the juxtaposing and conflating of issues.
From sources and news media professionals alike, we were told that Foley was one of any number of closeted politicians who lead "secretly homosexual lifestyles" — but that "he made little effort to hide his sexual orientation." That "there were some questions raised about his sexual orientation as he was preparing to run for the Senate" — but that "everybody knew he was gay." Now, of course, "Mark Foley wants you to know he is a gay man."
Also, that Foley's behavior "has to do with orientation" and is "the end result of a society that rejects sexual restraints in the name of diversity" — but that "there's a big difference between being gay and being a pedophile." We even heard that he is "52 and single" — but "19 years into a relationship."
With much of the initial furor over and news coverage looking to the future, it's time for clarity.
First, journalists must be cognizant of the complexity of these situations, as terms such as pedophilia, ephebophilia (adult individuals attracted to adolescents), predatory behavior and sexual harassment become part of the coverage. Journalists must find qualified sources that can address the terminology — rather than relying on the go-to "talking heads" we see time and again in coverage. Our readers, viewers and listeners need to understand the complexities and it's up to us to help provide the information they need to do so.
It's important to remember that this scandal has at its center an alleged predator, not a "homosexual pedophile," as Foley has already been described by some commentators. This and other behavior mentioned above are not isolated to gays and lesbians; indeed, when Florida school teacher Debra LaFave was reported to have had a sexual relationship with a teenage student, she was not called a "heterosexual pedophile." Many journalists have correctly and accurately reported the Foley case as being about the actions of an alleged predator, not about sexual orientation. That distinction is important to remember in the face of often-strident comment from media pundits or the "blogosphere."
In examining past scandals involving inappropriate behavior toward congressional pages, news outlets have been correct to pinpoint the late Rep. Gerry Studds, who in July 1983 was censured for a relationship with a male page; unfortunately, not all news outlets mentioned that Rep. Daniel Crane was censured at the same time for a relationship with a female page. Good journalism dictates that all facts be presented in order to present the most accurate and fair information to the public.
It's especially notable that many media outlets have also reported Foley's longtime refusal to confirm his sexual orientation to the public, even though that information was known to many people in his South Florida district. Foley was first "outed" in 1996, when The Advocate reported his support for the Defense of Marriage Act. It's clear that Foley appeared to feel that he would pay a price for being openly gay, yet a number of current and former members of Congress — including Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WIS) and Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) — served with distinction as openly gay representatives. The perceived stigma of being "out" can only be removed when journalists ask interview subjects about their sexual orientation, and not treat it as a "secret" or "irrelevant." In fact, in cases where a politician's voting record may run counter to her or his life status, those questions aren't irrelevant at all. Mainstream news organizations could and should use the Foley case as a learning experience: When hypocrisy is apparent, don't avoid engaging subjects about the issue. It's a journalist's job.
Now that Mark Foley has begun his life in recovery and as a private citizen, it's hoped that journalists continue to ask tough questions about his contact with congressional pages, about the leaders who were aware of Foley's contacts, and about what changes should be made to protect children from future predators. Along the way, responsible journalists — sifting through trickling information, accessible sound bites and dramatic quotes — should take the time to avoid blurring the lines between fact, rhetoric and opinion.
Because only through good journalism and the search for answers can the truth — about Foley, about predators, and about sexual orientation — be shared.
NLGJA is an organization of journalists, media professionals, educators and students working from within the news industry to foster fair and accurate coverage of LGBT issues. NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace bias and provides professional development to its members.
As the story surrounding the actions of former Florida Rep. Mark Foley began to unfold, NLGJA decided to go beyond our standard letter-to-the-industry approach. The Foley case was complicated and became only more so as alcoholism and sexual abuse (Foley has alleged that he was abused by a priest when he was a teen) were introduced to the media stream.
Unfortunately, the op-ed that NLGJA submitted to several mainstream news publications arrived at a time when editorials, columns and op-eds about Foley were flooding the industry. News organizations either had pieces relevant to the topic in-hand or they felt that too much had already been written.
This was still, however, an important moment for NLGJA and our desire to raise the visibility of our organization and our mission. NLGJA will continue to watch for places where our voices can contribute to such national conversations. We also believe that there is still a place for this particular op-ed in the ongoing dialogue. As such, we have decided to post a revision of the original document here, on our Web site.
Media Contacts:
Eric Hegedus
National President
Cell: 215-840-3909
eric@nlgjaleaders.org
Tom Avila
Acting Executive Director
Office Phone: 202-588-9888, ext. 17
Cell: 202-906-9885
tavila@nlgja.org
