Fox News exposes its own anti-gay bias again?

By JD Uy on September 26, 2009

One article, two headlines.

What’s the difference?

Fox News appears to have rewritten the original headline with incendiary intention, to state that a professor has created outrage by appearing in a pro-gay ad, when in fact quite the opposite is the case. Many of the professor’s colleagues have expressed their dismay that he used the college’s name in an ad to promote his personal opinion against gay marriage.

The original article and headline are about Professor Scott Fitzgibbons, of the Boston College Law School, who appeared in an advertisement against gay marriage. He makes the wrong-headed case that a a repeal of gay marriage is a legal imperative and that Question One must be used to prevent lawsuits and the teaching of homosexual marriage in public schools. It is reported that Fitzgibbons identified his affiliation with the BC Law School, but had not requested permission in advance to do so. Maine became the fifth state in the US to legalize gay marriage back in May 2009. Supporters of Question One provided enough signatures for the following question to appear on the Maine ballot: “Do you want to reject the new law that lets same-sex couples marry and allows individuals and religious groups to refuse to perform these marriages?” (The Heights) (Fox News) (Bangor Daily)

The Dean of the Boston College Law School has backed Fitzgibbons right to personal expression, but added that some at the school also support gay marriage. And 76 faculty members released a statement, three days after Fitzgibbons ad appeared, to say so:

The undersigned members of the faculty and administration at Boston College Law School feel that it is important to reaffirm our belief in the equality of all of our students. We are proud of the fact that Boston College Law School was one of the first law schools in the country to include sexual orientation in its non-discrimination pledge, and we reaffirm our commitment to making our institution a welcome and safe place for all
students, including LGBT students. — (AboveTheLaw)

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