www.glaad.org/action/calls_detail.php?id=4031
Read Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Report article, "The Oh-Really Factor" GLAAD Calls on the Program to Explain Sensational, Irresponsible Report and Issue Formal Apology On the June 21 edition of Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News Crime Analyst Rod Wheeler detailed what he called a "national network" of so-called "lesbian gangs" that prey on young girls. Using exaggerated, sensational language, Wheeler claimed there are more than 150 such gangs in the Washington, DC, area alone. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) contacted the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department to research the statistics Wheeler cited and found that the information he reported is highly suspect. Brett Parson, a member and the former commander of the DC Metro Police Department's Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit, says the numbers are grossly exaggerated. Parson is quoted along with GLAAD in a Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Report article titled, "The Oh-Really Factor," which debunks the June 21 report, pointing out its numerous flaws and highlighting its sensationalistic tone. "We have 150 to 175 total gangs in the DC area, and out of those only nine where the predominance of members are female," Parson said. I think it is fair to talk about violence and female gangs. But to sensationalize or marginalize a community by making a statement like that seems irresponsible." Gaithersburg, Md, Detective Patrick Word is President of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Gang Investigators Network, an intelligence-sharing organization of 400 criminal justice professionals in Maryland; GLAAD is calling on The O'Reilly Factor, which touts itself as the "No Spin Zone," and Fox News Crime Analyst Rod Wheeler to provide background information and evidence to support the wild claims made in the "Lesbian Gang Epidemic" segment. GLAAD is also strongly urging The O'Reilly Factor host Bill O'Reilly and Wheeler to correct the information in a follow-up report and to issue a formal apology to the lesbian community. "The O'Reilly Factor segment essentially reported a national epidemic of lesbian gangs preying on young girls without offering one solid statistic or credible source," said Rashad Robinson, GLAAD's Senior Director of Media Programs. "This type of inaccurate tabloid journalism perpetuates dangerous stereotypes about lesbians and feeds a climate of homophobia, anti-gay discrimination and violence. That's the real national epidemic, but not one you're likely to see reported with such zeal by Bill O'Reilly." Please contact John Moody, SVP news editorial at Fox News Channel, Amy Sohnen, executive producer, The O'Reilly Factor and Rod Wheeler, Fox News Channel crime analyst and ask them to provide facts and statistics to substantiate the bold assertions in "Lesbian Gang Epidemic" and to live up to the show's "No Spin Zone" motto. Demand an on-air apology for the sensationalistic report.
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