Starting next month, the
Sunday Styles section of The New York Times will publish reports
of same-sex commitment ceremonies and of some types of formal
registration of gay and lesbian partnerships, the newspaper
announced yesterday. On occasion, the Vows column will be devoted
to a same-sex couple.
Howell Raines, executive editor of The Times, said: "In
making this change, we acknowledge the newsworthiness of a growing
and visible trend in society toward public celebrations of
commitment by gay and lesbian couples - celebrations important to
many of our readers, their families and their friends. We
recognize that the society remains divided about the legal and
religious definition of marriage, and our news columns will remain
impartial in that debate, reporting fully on all points of view.
The Styles pages will treat same-sex celebrations as a discrete
phenomenon meriting coverage in their own right."
In form, Mr. Raines said, the articles and pictures will be
identical to
those The Times has used for weddings. As with weddings, he added,
the Styles editors will decide which couples can be accommodated
in the available space. The criteria - the newsworthiness and
accomplishments of the couples and their families - will be the
same as those that have traditionally applied to weddings.
Fuente: NY TIMES, August 18, 2002,Times Will
Begin Reporting Gay Couples' Ceremonies
Gladd applauds decision on gay
weddings
"Today's decision by 'The New York Times' is nothing less
than a watershed moment in the pursuit of equality for the lesbian
and gay community", expressed GLAAD Executive Director.
"The decision fulfills a request made by GLAAD in a formal
meeting
last month for the 'Times' to reverse its long-held policy
excluding
lesbian and gay commitment ceremonies from its Weddings
section. At that meeting, managing editor Gerald Boyd
indicated to us we had made
compelling arguments about the need for the paper to reflect the
growing and visible trend of same-sex unions. We argued it
was a
simple matter of fairness. Obviously, 'The New York Times'
agreed.
"GLAAD and 'The New York Times' have been discussing this
issue for
more than a year. We are delighted the 'Times' has made a
courageous decision to recognize the newsworthiness of same-sex
unions. We hope their decision will cause other newspapers
across the country to follow suit.
FUENTE: MANO A MANO
Gay Journalists
Association applaud NY Times
WASHINGTON, DC-- The National Lesbian and Gay
Journalists Association (NLGJA) immediately commended The New York
Times for its decision to publish same-sex civil union and
commitment announcements. The New York Times announced its new
policy yesterday in its Sunday edition, August 18, 2002, and
disclosed that this change will take effect in September 2002.
The decision followed a meeting held in December 2001 with the
leadership of NLGJA and gay and lesbian members of the newspaper's
staff and Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. and other senior
officers of The New York Times. NLGJA urged The Times to continue
its leadership in covering the LGBT community by publishing such
announcements.
"The Times decision is historic," said Robert Dodge,
president of NLGJA and national economics correspondent of The
Dallas Morning News. "This decision will stand as a beacon
for other major news organizations which are also eager to
maintain fairness and equity in their coverage of the gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender community."
The meeting with The Times and the subsequent announcement
underscore the role and influence those NLGJA members have working
from within the news industry to advance the organization's goals
of fairness and accuracy in covering the gay and lesbian
community.
Change happens because leaders, like the Times, step up at
critical moments and do the right thing. We look forward to
congratulating our colleagues at the New York Times in person, and
to witness the ripple effects this will bring in the news
industry."
FUENTE: MANO A MANO
Portada <<
|
