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News
Release November
29, 2005
NLGJA
News > News Releases > November 29, 2005
Open
Letter from NLGJA to the News Industry Regarding Coverage of
Gay Priests in the Catholic Church
Dear
Fellow Journalist:
Today, Tuesday, November 29th, the Vatican issued
new guidance to its dioceses on the role of gay men in the Catholic
Church.
Members of the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association
(NLGJA) have noticed a number of inaccurate and unfair portrayals
of gay men in the reporting of this document, which has been widely
leaked in advance of today's release date. Some of those reports
have included references to sexual "preferences," and
reporting without verification parishioner
statements that most of the priests involved in the Church's sex-abuse
scandal were
gay. Also, factually incorrect opinions
that assert a cause-and-effect link between gay men and pedophilia
are being reported without
challenge.
As journalists and leaders of NLGJA,
we acknowledge our job to report
assertions by Catholic officials that the presence of
gay clergy has resulted in sexual abuse cases,
and even stated beliefs that link
pedophilia and gay men. However, if similar statements
were made about other minority and stigmatized
groups, reporters and editors would
feel obliged to find sources to challenge those allegations,
and to otherwise provide factual
information to do so. NLGJA urges
that the same professional standards be applied to stories
concerning lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
people. In addition, it's important to point out that
the term "sexual
preference" implies that sexuality
– whether heterosexual,
homosexual or bisexual
– is the result of a conscious choice.
That is a politically charged suggestion. In order to be accurate
and neutral, journalists should use terms such as "sexual
orientation," "sexuality" or "sexual identity" as
appropriate.
When news organizations cover instances of sexual abuse by heterosexual
adults against children of the opposite sex, they are not cast
as stories about sexual orientation. They are accurately reported
as crimes against children. News coverage about the sex abuse
scandal in the Catholic Church has done more to link gay men with
pedophilia than any other story in decades. Without balance, expert
inquiry and opposing views, such charges can create long-lasting
and inaccurate ideas that can damage the lives of LGBT people.
As journalists we owe it to our readers and viewers to uphold
a basic practice of our profession: Get all sides of the story
and provide our audiences with all the facts.
NLGJA has a number of online resources to assist journalists
in covering LGBT people and issues, including our Stylebook
Supplement on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Terminology and our Journalists Toolbox.
Sincerely,
Eric Hegedus
NLGJA National President
Pamela Strother
NLGJA Executive Director
The
National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA)
is an organization of journalists,
media professionals, educators and
students who work within the news
industry to foster fair and accurate
coverage of lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender issues.
NLGJA opposes all forms of workplace
bias and provides professional
development to its members. Media Contacts:
Pamela Strother
Executive Director
Office: 202.588.9888, ext. 11
Mobile: 202-486-5990
pstrother@nlgja.org
Eric Hegedus
National President
Mobile: 215-840-3909
ehegedus@gmail.com
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