GLAAD amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.
Utah NBC Affiliate’s Decision to Ban ‘The New Normal’ is Anti-Gay and Outdated
An NBC affiliate station based out of Salt Lake City, Utah has said it will not run the upcoming sitcom The New Normal because of its content. The New Normal follows a gay couple’s attempts to start a family with the help of a surrogate.
“Same-sex families are a beloved part of American television thanks to shows like Modern Family, Glee and Grey’s Anatomy,” said GLAAD President Herndon Graddick. “While audiences, critics and advertisers have all supported LGBT stories, KSL is demonstrating how deeply out of touch it is with the rest of the country.”
“We invite Jeff Simpson to sit down with GLAAD and local LGBT families. We know that if he would, he would see that not only are our families normal, but by citing ‘crude and rude’ content and refusing to affirm LGBT families, KSL and Mr. Simpson are sending a dangerous message to Utah. They should make that right.”
KSL CEO Jeff Simpson told the outlet Deseret News that, “For our brand, this program simply feels inappropriate on several dimensions, especially during family viewing time.”
Utah gay pride parade draws hundreds of Mormon participants
A gay pride parade in Mormon-heavy Salt Lake City drew thousands of participants, including a few hundred Mormons, whose church has been criticized by gay rights activists for its activism against marriage equality. The Mormon contingent for Sunday’s parade wasn’t made up of gay members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but rather straight Mormons who want to show support for gay and lesbian people.
(Source: glaad.org)
