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News
Release July
26,
2006
NLGJA
News > News
Releases > July26,
2006
Open
Letter From NLGJA to the News Industry
Regarding Lance Bass' "Coming Out"
Dear Colleagues:
This week, many reporters will write
stories about the public "coming
out" of musician Lance Bass, the ‘N
Sync band member who discusses his
sexual orientation in the latest issue
of People magazine.
Over
the past year, such celebrities as WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes
and "Star Trek" actor George Takei also came out, bringing
substantial coverage to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) issues. As similar stories are filed and produced in the
future, the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association
(NLGJA) encourages reporters and other
journalists, bloggers, columnists and
media analysts to keep in mind the following recommendations
for fair and accurate reporting of
LGBT people:
- The
term “gay” is the preferred adjective
that has largely replaced “homosexual” in referring
to men who are sexually and affectionally
attracted to other men. “Homosexual” should
be used only if “heterosexual” would be used in parallel
constructions, such as in medical contexts.
- Whether
in headlines, teases, or body copy, try to avoid using forms
of the word "admit," which is typically
used in the context of something shameful
or illegal. Some examples of less potentially charged words
are "announce," "disclose" and "say."
- Also,
be aware that the Associated Press Stylebook recommends avoiding
the term "lifestyle" when referring to someone's
sexual orientation. In this context, "lifestyle" suggests
that gays and lesbians -- not to mention
bisexuals and transgender people -- think and act the same way.
In fact, there is no "gay
lifestyle" or “alternative lifestyle” just as
there is no "straight lifestyle."
NLGJA
has several resources to help
guide journalists who are reporting
on LGBT people and issues.
Please visit our Stylebook
Supplement on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender
Terminology or our Journalists
Toolbox. We hope these
will be useful to you in
your pursuit of
good
journalism.
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:
Eric Hegedus
National President
Cell: 215-840-3909
eric@nlgjaleaders.org
Tom Avila
Deputy Executive Director
Office Phone: 202-588-9888, ext. 17
Cell: 202-906-9885
tavila@nlgja.org |
