UPDATED: 10.28.10:
Today, GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation announced that NBC has been quick to respond. NBC is removing the offensive segment from its website. Unfortunately, Maier, the KTBB host who instigated this homophobic screed, has refused to accept responsibility and has not apologized. The radio station owner and general manager Paul Gleiser, offered an apology, which is an excellent step forward. However, Maier is at it again. Just one day after asking, “What do you think, the acceptance of homosexuality, pushed hard by the gay rights activists, will it be the fall of this country?,” Maier’s “Talkback” question of the day today is, “Should newspapers be obligated to print gay marriage notices?”
Via GLAAD:
In response to GLAAD’s outreach and community outcry, here’s what KETK plans to do:
–For starters, at GLAAD’s request, KETK has removed from their Web site the eight-minute piece that ran yesterday – the re-airing of the KTBB segment and accompanying video.
–GLAAD pitched Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns to do an interview with the station. Burns, who has garnered significant media attention and praise for his advocacy against anti-LGBT bullying, will appear on KETK newscasts tomorrow to discuss why potentially harmful questions like Maier’s should not be asked – and certainly not broadcast over public airwaves – in the first place. (Please note that this blog will be updated as more time-specific information becomes available about when you can see Joel on KETK.)
–In addition to Joel appearing on KETK, General Manager Dave Tillery has also responded to our request that he appear on-camera to speak on behalf of the station. Dave realizes how important it is that the station acknowledge in front of their viewers what they’ve acknowledged to GLAAD over the phone – that a segment like Wednesday’s has no place on the airwaves of a reputable news organization. Furthermore, Dave plans to acknowledge the potential harm that could be caused by Wednesday’s report and will commit, on behalf of the station, to being more careful in the future.
–Lastly, KETK is rethinking how they will repackage KTBB Talkback content for future newscasts. KETK General Manager Dave Tillery shared with GLAAD that he will be meeting tomorrow with Paul Gleiser, KTBB’s owner/general manager.
Garth Maier
Tyler, Texas NBC affiliate KETK has a daily tie-in with talk radio station KTBB and talk show host Garth Maier’s morning show. Today, set up by the NBC morning hosts, Maier asked this stunning “question of the day,” “What do you think, the acceptance of homosexuality, pushed hard by the gay rights activists, will it be the fall of this country?”
Not a lot surprises me these days, but I confess, this totally threw me for a loop.
The lead-up to Maier’s question began with the news from yesterday that the Obama administration has appointed about one-hundred fifty members of the LGBT community. If you watch the video, you’ll hear the hosts make it sound like a lot of those are judges.
Love how they say this report has “not really gotten any coverage.” It’s been all over the Internet since it came out yesterday!
Of course, they denigrate marriage as well.
This is truly appalling.
I hope you’ll take a moment to contact NBC, NBC affiliate KETK, and especially KTBB Radio. You can email Maier at garthmaier@ktbb.com. Maier is also listed as the station’s Morning News/Production-Programming Director.
Fortunately, looking at the comments, the good citizens of Texas are pretty angry with their local NBC station for promoting hate and bigotry! Go Texas!
Think Progress’ Igor Volsky gives us the following transcript, and has this to add:
“Maier has a history of anti-gay remarks and innuendo. During Elena Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court, for instance, Maier reported “there have been numerous question about her own sexuality†and asked, “does it matter to you?†“Considering perhaps a justice on the high court, being a homosexual. Does the sexual orientation of a Supreme Court nominee matter to you?†“I’m curious to see if any of the conservatives will raise questions about her orientation and see if she’ll answer questions about it,†he added.”
BOB BRACKEEN: A record number of openly gay appointees in the Obama administration. And there are other gay men and women who perhaps wish to keep their lives secret who also are in the Obama administration, perhaps as judges as well. […]
GARTH MAIER: President Obama very aggressive with his appointment of homosexuals. Christian conservatives of course criticizing Obama for upholding what is considered by many an immoral lifestyle….What do you think, the acceptance of homosexuality, pushed hard by the gay rights activists, will it be the fall of this country? […]
CALLER 1: We know that there are more gays in Washington, DC than there is in San Francisco or Southern Florida or anywhere in this nation. There are double, trust me, three times as many gays in Washington, DC than there is in San Francisco. So if he hired a bunch of them, probably because all anyone was there to work. So you need help, you need help! […]
CALLER 2: I think the whole issue of homosexuality is overblown. We seem to be so conscious about being politically correct. According to most of the statistics homosexuals occupy just 7% of the population, so why do we spend 30% of our time talking about it? […]
MAIER: Will the acceptance of homosexuality in this society be the downfall of America?….Will it be that destroys American society as we know it right now? You see it everywhere accepted at every level and certainly in the entertainment industry since the late 1980s, all over, gay characters in television shows, in the movies, so on and so forth. […]
BRACKEEN: Again, the last caller, hit the nail on the head, Garth. Obviously the mainstream media, Hollywood caters to less than 10% of the population. They have a very strong voice in this country. Politically and in pop culture as well.
The New Civil Rights Movement
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