Noted broadcaster and friend of the 212 Hank Plante alerted me to this story on the CBS Evening News last night about Alex Morse, who at just 22 was just elected mayor of Holyoke, Mass, a poverty-stricken city in the western part of the state. The report is quite extensive -- he's the youngest of three boys, his dad was a meat packer, class president at 15 -- yet CBS chose not to mention the fact that Morse is openly gay. (He's also a Republican -- with a voice and speech pattern that is scarily similar to Rudy Giuliani!) In my 25 years in the news business, I've always agreed with my J-school professors (and superiors) that someone's race, color or sexuality should not be mentioned in a story unless it's newsworthy. Usually its relevance are pretty self-evident. But in cases like this, I'd argue the line is far fuzzier. By being elected mayor, Morse becomes the youngest gay mayor in America, which could be considered newsworthy. (Who'd have thought we'd be making that distinction during my lifetime?)
While it's true that Morse's sexuality doesn't matter to the duties of his job, the need for young LGBT people to have role models is enormous. And the fact that Morse is forthright about his sexuality, I think I'd have mentioned it, at least in passing.
What do you think?
6 comments:
I can see it both ways: Yes, mentioning his sexuality can make him known as a role model for young gay men and lesbians, but I can also see the non-mention as a sign of mainstreaming: it's no longer gaspworthy when a gay man or lesbian is elected to a political office. I'm guessing a decision might have been made on the basis that the sexuality of a straight person being elected wouldn't have been mentioned.
I wish I could say that I am surprise.
It's absolutely relevant. He's the youngest openly gay mayor ever elected. He's completely open and faced some anti-gay bigotry during the election. If he was the youngest African-American/Hispanic/Asian/Woman/disabled/you name it ever elected, that would have been the opening line of the story.
How is he going to be able to get a date if he doesn't let people know?
Our goal should be that orientation does not matter. I don't recall the last time a straight candidate elected having his or her orientation officially announced? I don't see the need here. It will come out in due time.
Ken -- OF COURSE Others -- Ken is right
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