Why She Didn't Attend the NLGJA Convention -- They Failed Us on Prop 8

[davidinalameda]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/karen-ocamb/why-i-didnt-attend-the-nl_b_708246.html?ref=fb&src=sp

The National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association held it's annual convention in San Francisco over Labor Day weekend. And even though I've been around for the 20 years since it was founded by Roy Aarons -- I didn't go. I'm still furious over the organization's failure to discuss the San Francisco Chronicle's coverage of Prop 8.

As Beyond Chron blogger Paul Hogarth learned from Chronicle reporter Jill Tucker, the political desk hijacked the social story of the now infamous first graders surprise field trip to their beloved teacher's lesbian wedding at city hall. Both No on Prop 8 campaign consultant Steve Smith and Yes on 8 campaign manager Frank Schubert later agreed that the Oct. 11 front page story turned the tide of the election.

What's worse -- Schubert's partner Jeff Flint says that the Yes on 8 campaign had no idea about the wedding until they were informed about it by the Chronicle. I called David Steinberg, president of NLGJA's board of directors, who sits on the Chronicle's copy desk and was aware of what happened - and he said he didn't see any problem with what the political desk did.

I have been livid ever since. I thought part of the mission of NLGJA was to talk to colleagues about how news is covered so it doesn't wind up being antigay. What's the point of having an NLGJA Style Guide when there's no substance behind the style? Not only that - but I was censored when I tried to bring the issue up in a Prop 8 story they requested for the NLGJA newsletter Outlook.

[Sapphocrat]

1. Some b-word called "Sapphocrat" is mentioned in there.

And yes, I "complained vociferously," but no avail.

The fates willing, Karen will garner more attention than I did, or than even the parents did.

Blogged.