Gay publication defends printing Jeff Gannon columns

[kweerwolf]

(From Chris Crain, editor of the New York Blade)

To read the letters and e-mails to this newspaper in response to a few opinion columns by Jeff Gannon, you would think he represents a grave threat to the achievement of equality for gay Americans.

In fact, many of his loudest critics represent a much more serious obstacle to the success of the gay rights movement.

<snip>

The job of any good opinion section is to challenge readers, not just preach to the choir. For that reason, our Forum pages are open to anyone, gay and non-gay, whether or not they support the goals of the gay rights movement.

But Jeff Gannon doesn't represent that sort of challenge. He doesn't oppose gay equality. In fact, he confirmed just this week that he is bisexual. Even still, he is very clearly a conservative who supports the policies of the Bush administration, and that plus his headline-grabbing past has been more than enough to enrage some gay liberals.

http://www.nyblade.com/blog/index.cfm?type=blog&start=9/16/05&end=9/23/05#2596

So, following that logic, Ebony should open its pages to columns by the grand wizard of the KKK and Ms. magazine should feature Phyllis Schafly as a columnist. What bullshit! C'mon, Chris ... just admit that you were trying to grab headlines (and readers) by adding manwhore Jeff Gannon to your publication. It's OK to be a whore ... just don't try to convince the rest of us you're really just a courtesan.

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. The Blade claims that Gannon "does not oppose gay equality."

Then it acknowledges that Gannon is an enthusiastic defender of the Bush presidency.... which, of course, "opposes gay equality."

Is Chris Crain a simpleton or have I missed something?

[moobu2]

2. What does this mean?

"One particularly angry reader asked rhetorically if he could expect to pick up the following week's paper to read an opinion column by an "ex-gay" explaining the way out of homosexuality. "I wish!" was my reply."

I dont understand..

[closeupready]

3. How does one strongly criticize a paper dedicated to your community

and not be too negative? Because after reading this column, that's exactly what I would do.

This editor should realize that this gay paper he edits isn't only giving voice to a staunch Republican who denies being gay (like, how can that be healthy for anybody?), but that they've hired him as a freaking COLUMNIST!

Intolerance is not rejecting hate speech. Intolerance is not declining to hire someone as a columnist. Let Gannon start his own gay paper.

[kweerwolf]

4. Or even his own web site ...

... Oh wait. He's already had a couple of those.

<cough>hotmilitarystuds.com<cough>

:9