Jul 22nd, 2006
Two Indicators that a media outlet holds a bias against validating same-sex relationships.
1. When articles put quotes around the word “married” when referring to the Goodridges or any other same-sex couple with a legal marriage license from Massachusetts.
2. When articles use words like “only,” “just” or “short” when referring to the two-year duration of the Goodridge marriage, but omit the fact that the couple was in a committed relationship for 19 years before they were allowed to legally marry.
Perhaps instead of getting “married”, they would have been better keeping their “committed relationship” in the “closet” where it belongs?
Since we are playing with maybes here…
Maybe cowards who are too “afraid” to stand behind their comments would have been better off keeping their uncivilized and ill-mannered “opinions” to themselves.
Thanks for responding, Samir.I was stunned by the thoughts offered by “just a thought.” I look to this space for building and supporting community, among all people.
E.J. Graff (a friend of the Goodridges) wrote an interesting column in the Boston Globe today that speaks to this issue. The point? Twenty years is a looooong time for ANY couple to be together and many couples call it quits at this time. A relationship that ends after twenty years is not necessarily a “failed” one.
I’m sorry Samir, you’re right.
Regards,
8 out of 10 Americans.
Maybe you already mention this elsewhere, but the Washington Times is a great example of what you’re talking about. The seem to have their own style guide, which insists on the quotes around the word marriage every time it is used in conjunction with same-sex partners.