A Hamilton man doesn't like the word gay being used on the TV news, in reports on marriage equality. The Broadcasting Standards Authority is refusing to even consider a Hamilton man’s repeated complaints that the word ‘gay’ shouldn’t be used on TV news because he believes it’s too sympathetic and supportive, and not impartial. Leo Leitch believes the word “homosexual” should be used instead, and has written to the BSA numerous times to say so, following the use of the word gay in marriage equality stories on One and 3 News. “The word ‘gay’ is not an objective, impartial term when used to describe homosexuals or homosexual activity. It is an indication of sympathy and support,” he wrote. The BSA says it will not consider the complaints, which are “frivolous and trivial”. “It is a neutral term, and as noted in our previous ruling, a term that is accepted and widely used. Its descriptive use in the context of these news items does not raise any issues of broadcasting standards,” the BSA says. It adds that Leitch’s three identical complaints on the issues, which come after an earlier complaint had already been thrown out, could be seen as vexatious. You can discuss this gay New Zealand community news story on the GayNZ.com forum here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Sunday, 16th December 2012 - 12:28pm