Today’s Daily Herald story “Talk of sex isn’t for school: Two Dist. 204 parents want subject matter left to families” about parental objections to the National Day of Silence (pro-gay/lesbian tolerance) and/or the “National Day of Truth” (anti-gay/lesbian tolerance) recognition days in schools was highly biased (presenting only the anti-homosexual and anti-sex discussion/recognition side) and failed to give key background information about one of the two parents. Schools in District 204 do not sanction either of the two days, but individuals may organize and participate in them since they do not affect normal school classes.
Peter LaBarbera, former Executive Director of the socially conservative, religious right Illinois Family Institute and Founder and President of the anti-homosexual Americans for Truth group based in Naperville, was simply listed in the article as a “parent” who objected to the pro-gay/lesbian National Day of Silence. Given LaBarbera’s high profile, public anti-homosexual background that description is simply wrong. It is also wrong that the article discussed two parents opposing pro-homosexual tolerance events in schools, along with a student displaying anti-homosexual views, but there was no mention of the pro-gay/lesbian tolerance side at all. While I have no doubt there are more than two social conservatives in Indian Prairie School District 204 - why do two make the whole story - especially in a district where tolerance is likely a majority viewpoint?*
My pro-equal rights stance on homosexuality is a matter of public record on this blog, and I tend to view more education as key to ending discrimination. My criticism of the Daily Herald is not that they presented views that I disagree with - but that the views presented were one-sided in this article, and through omission of a prominent anti-homosexual leader’s background, they mislead their reading audience about who and what one “parent” represents (i.e. Peter LaBarbera is much more than a generic District 204 “parent” in this story).
The Daily Herald can do better than that and, to be fair, often does better. If the Daily Herald wants to promote anti-gay/lesbian views in their news section they should say it. Otherwise they shouldn’t do it.
Notes:
* Evidence of this comes from the Daily Herald’s own reporting (e.g. “‘Days’ pass quietly” 4/20/07) where anecdotal evidence suggests that displays of pro-homosexual tolerance shirts/stickers dwarfed the number of anti-homosexual shirts/displays at Neuqua Valley High School. Likewise the District 204 School Board is not dominated by social conservatives.
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