MEDIA & MARRIAGE EQUALITY : A RESOURCE GUIDE
Please contact our Media Director Molly McKay at (510)332-0872 or
Executive Director Davina Kotulski (510)332-0973
or e-mail media@marriageequality.org.
If you are a member of the media, welcome! You have come to the right
place to learn more on how the media can report the issue of marriage
equality for same-sex couples in an accurate and inclusive manner.
While civil marriage rights for same-sex couples is a controversial issue,
it is the main issue affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
lives throughout the country.
Whether your newspaper publishes same-sex union announcements, or a couple
who has suffered a tragedy in your area will be the focus of your 10:00
p.m. news broadcast, the issue of marriage is one that has been discussed
thus far with few facts and confusing data. We ask all reporters to consider
a more fair and accurate story for your audience, which includes same-sex
couples! Marriage Equality offers some tips to help you better cover the
story with the most comprehensive information available in the country.
Facts Reporters Must Know
Click here for Key Facts on Marriage
Anti-Marriage Advocates
So much rhetoric from anti-marriage advocates often fills the media,
particularly the op-ed pages, when the issue of marriage for same-sex
couples is raised. Most recently, the proposed federal amendment to the
Constitution to ban same-sex couples from civil marriage, is a perfect
example of how few media professionals have reported the entire issue
in a fair and accurate way.
Sizzling sound-bite phases such as "fight the marriage battle," "protect
marriage" and "blatant attack on religion" pepper any
declaration of position. "Save the family" and "Save
the children" is the great hue and cry. "Stop the gay agenda" and "Stop
homosexuals from destroying marriage" is the message.
The comments and perspectives go from mouth to print and broadcast without
much challenge by journalists for clarity or a reality check. Here are
some obvious questions in response to anti-marriage advocates:
- How exactly will marriages of opposite-sex couples be affected
if same-sex couples obtain the right to legally recognize
their unions?
- How is it, when secular marriage laws exist, that the suggestion
of marriage equality is allowed to be framed as an attack
against religion?
- In the last 25 years, every
study has shown that children of gay and lesbian parents
are healthy and happy. And,
the American
Academy
of Pediatrics supports second-parent adoption. How do you
justify your belief that children would be harmed?
- What is it that you really fear?
- Don't children and couples deserve to be
properly protected?
We ask you, the media professional, to balance the story, research
the facts and report the truth. For more help in formulating questions
to anti-marriage advocates, please visit here
It's Your Job
Media have an obligation to treat gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
people fairly even if governments and "faith-based" groups
are unwilling to do so. It will be a welcome shift in coverage when easily
refuted comments are questioned to reveal the plain truth: access by same-sex
couples to the benefits and obligations of marriage is not a religious
issue, nor an extension of "special rights" nor a liberal "social
experiment." It is simply fair and equal treatment and should be
reported as such.
STORY IDEAS
Here are some ideas on stories that would be of interest to your readers:
- The added challenge of senior gay and lesbian
couples who are unable to access legal protections in their "golden years." Please
go to the Personal Stories sub-section and
scroll down to "Golden
Years."
- The comparison of two couples, one gay, one non-gay,
as they both prepare for their wedding ceremony. How similar
and different are these
couples as they plan for the "perfect day."
- Lately, the media has dutifully written about
President George W. Bush's
plan to "strengthen marriage." Very little (if any at all)
has been written about the strengthening of lesbian and gay couples' relationships.
After all, marriage rights for same-sex couples would allow
couples to protect their relationships and children.
- How little many opposite-sex couples know about their rights and
responsibilities within a civil marriage.
These are a few ideas, but remember, not all stories
need to be specifically about gay and lesbian couples. For
example, in a story about love, Valentine's Day, tragedy in families,
kids and their parents, etc., does not have to be exclusive of non-gay
or gay couples;
same-sex couples can be a part of your story, just as they
are a part of society.
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