Action Alert - Contact 'Today Show'

NBC'S 'Today' Provides Platform for Defamatory Anti-Gay Attacks

GLAAD Alert ** Oct. 14, 2005

This GLAAD Alert and related video clips are available online at GLAAD.org

On Oct. 13, NBC's "Today" featured an interview with William Donohue, president of a far-right organization called the Catholic League -- who, during the course of the segment, repeatedly launched defamatory attacks against the gay community.

As one of three guests speaking about the Los Angeles Archdiocese's release of information on priests accused of sexual abuse, Donohue claimed that the crisis in the Catholic Church was "a homosexual scandal, not a pedophilia scandal" and later claimed that "It's homosexuals" who are responsible for the abuse.

[NOTE: To view video of Donohue's appearance on NBC's "Today" -- as well as a clip from a previous appearance on MSNBC where, during a discussion of the same topic, he attacked and insulted his fellow guests -- visit the GLAAD.org homepage at http://www.glaad.org .]

Since 2002, Donohue has opportunistically exploited the crisis in the Cathol! ic Church to link adult homosexuality (and gay people in general) with child sexual abuse - ignoring the fact that such abuse of power is not reflective of any healthy adult sexual orientation -- gay or straight.

As the Catholic Church continues to grapple with the abuse crisis, it remains important to acknowledge the men, women and children who have been the victims of intolerable sexual abuse by priests they trusted. And just as there is no excuse for any adult's sexual abuse of children (or a priest's sexual abuse of any parishioner), neither is it acceptable to claim that such abuse is in any way reflective of gay life, gay identity, or the majority of gay priests.

At one point, even Donohue seemed to realize he had crossed a line, hastily amending his second accusation that the abuse crisis was about "homosexuals" to add, "I'm not saying homosexuality causes someone to be a predator. That would be malicious."

Inviting Donohue to appear on the "Today" show, particularly given his history of anti-gay rhetoric and ill-mannered on-air behavior (as evidenced by Donohue's appearance on MSNBC in 2002, a video clip of which can be viewed at http://www.glaad.org) was simply irresponsible. And by not challenging Donohue's outrageous claims, "Today" show host Katie Couric gave unfortunate deference to a defamatory attack on the gay community and the vast majority of honorable gay priests.

"William Donohue's attacks are baseless, defamatory, calculated to fuel anti-gay sentiment -- and, unfortunately, exactly what people have come to expect from him," said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "T! he real question here is why, knowing all this, NBC would still allow itself to be used to promote Donohue's malicious smear tactics."

GLAAD contacted officials at NBC to voice our serious concerns about Donohue's appearance on the show. NBC representatives stated that Donohue's views were his own and not reflective of the network's.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Please watch the videos at GLAAD.org and send an e-mail to the producers at NBC's "Today." Ask them to re-think how they cover the crisis in the Catholic Church and whom they invite to speak on behalf of the Catholic faith. Ask that they explain their decision to provide a platform for William Donohue's defamatory anti-gay attacks.

TO TAKE ACTION, visit GLAAD.org and click on "Take Action!"