CNN Paula Zahn Gay Reparative Therapy

[Daniel]

Did anyone besides me catch Paula Zahn's program last night (May 23) where she featured a Gay Reparative Therapy segment? You can find info about it on http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

See also: http://www.exgaywatch.com/blog/archi...nn_to_cov.html

Hubby tells me that this isn't the first time that Zahn featured such a segment. Apparently, her debut broadcast featured such a piece as well.

The piece, as ex-gaywatch.com notes, did a great job of pandering to the Right by not including accurate information such as the lack of success rate and the the repuditation of such methods by science.

Please call or email Paula and tell her your thoughts on the matter.

[NathanATX]

Date: Thu, 25 May 2006 07:00:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Nate Black" <nateblackpfs@yahoo.com> View Contact Details Add Mobile Alert
Subject: Paula Zahn's Promotion of Dangerous "Ex-Gay" Scams
To: Victor.Neufeld@cnn.com, Mark.Nelson@cnn.com, Debra.Goldschmidt@cnn.com, Deborah.Feyerick@cnn.com, Paula.Zahn@cnn.com

Dear CNN:

I am writing to express my dissappointment with the quality of an episode produced by one of my favorite CNN hosts, Paula Zahn.

Paula, you might have done a better job had you researched the following quesions:

• What are the verifiable success rates, numbers & stories of "ex-gay" programs?
• WHO funds & creates "ex-gay" programs? Why? There are clear money trails that lead to right-wing political foundations. This creates a distinct possibility that "ex-gay" programs are simply a tool of the political extreme right and the actual concern for the well-being of the gay or lesbian person is minute. The pretense of concern is offered as long as this person supports the extremist position, which helps win votes.
• What does the medical & psychological community say about the harm that "ex-gay" programs can cause?
• What about the failures? The two male founders of Exodus left the organization and are now pursuing a romantic life together. John Paulk, Focus on the Family's "ex-gay" poster boy, who married an "ex-lesbian" was caught in a gay bar. And those are just two very prominent examples. It would take LITTLE effort to uncover MANY stories of failure.
• What about the harm? What about the young people who have killed themselves because a) these extremist organizations convinced them God wanted them to change and b) the programs failed to change them. What about the people who have suffered extreme psychological damage as a result of "reparative therapy?"
• What about the damage to the self esteem and self worth of participants who end up caring so little about themselves they have HIGH rates of unsafe sex behavior and drug/alchohol abuse?
  
• What about the damage families who buy into these "ex-gay" programs as a genuine solution to their child's "problem?" How could a parent forgive themselves for forcing a child to endure such abuse? How do fundamentalist Christians who continually espouse "family values" reconcile those statements with the families who are broken apart because they, like good fundamentalist Christians, reject their gay or lesbian children.

Paula, I'm angry and upset you did such a poor job reporting on an incredibly important issue. Please do something to rectify this situation.

Thank you for reading this.

Sincerely,


Nathan Black
(my phone)

www.nateblack.us
www.fuelmccaustin.com
www.mccaustin.com

[Liberal Crozier]

I wish that you could view some Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and CTV programmes on the "ex-gay movement." Our right wing may have minority governmental power at the moment - but the minute that our own left wing sorts out its malfeasants - we will return to government. However, Canadians know and understand what Americans are not allowed to see...the truth about these programmes.

Imagine a world that you never have seen.....where right wingers are taken to task for their lies of commission or worse, lies of omission on television. When Ann Coulter went on Toronto television, she experienced what she would never be subjected to on US media.....called to task for her lies on air. Moreover, the Canadian reporter had the facts ready for her false version of history and "truth".

American television is about promoting the right wing agenda. Their views are seldom challenged, and if they are, they are given the weaker spokesperson and the least time on air to state our position. Reporters will merely allow both views to go unchallenged or will, if they are right wingers themselves, skewer the interview in favour of their position.

Great job, Nathan, but I wish that I could share your appreciation of Paula Zahn. I find her skills mediocre and her second attempt at this subject with the same spin a true indication of her own belief system.

[keltic63]

Originally Posted by Liberal Crozier

American television is about promoting the right wing agenda. Their views are seldom challenged, and if they are, they are given the weaker spokesperson and the least time on air to state our position. Reporters will merely allow both views to go unchallenged or will, if they are right wingers themselves, skewer the interview in favour of their position.

wow. I've never heard that sentence here in the US.