Radio Honor for Antigay James Dobson Causing Uproar

Four organizations are demanding that the Museum of Broadcast Communications retract its decision to induct Focus on the Family founder James Dobson into its hall of fame. The groups are urging supporters to contact the museum to share their disapproval, and to participate in a protest against the induction.

Four organizations are demanding that the Museum of Broadcast Communications retract its decision to induct Focus on the Family founder James Dobson into its hall of fame.

The groups are urging supporters to contact the Chicago-based museum to share their disapproval, and to participate in a protest against the induction.

Truth Wins Out, the Gay Liberation Network, Equality Illinois, and Soulforce issued a letter to museum organizers asking to leave Dobson out of the annual ceremony.

"It is simply unconscionable that the museum is giving its imprimatur to a demagogue who has profited from divisive and discriminatory rhetoric. If the museum wants to regain its respect and credibility, it will choose to dump Dobson," Truth Wins Out executive director Wayne Besen said in a statement.

Aside from establishing Focus on the Family, Dobson's work also includes founding Love Won Out, a prominent organization that claims to cure gays and lesbians of their homosexuality. At least seven scientists and psychologists have accused him of cherry-picking research results to back his teachings, according to the statement.

Dobson established Focus on the Family in the 1970s and launched a radio show after a television appearance in 1978. The internationally syndicated show has been on the radio ever since, airing on 4,000 stations around the world.

Should the museum choose to go ahead with Dobson's induction, the ceremony will take place November 8 at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel. (Michelle Garcia, The Advocate)

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Name: John Cummings
Date posted: 10/14/2008 9:52:00 PM
Hometown: Jacksonville

Comment:
when will the gay and lesbian community realize that the straight society of this world is constantly bombarded and offended by a liberal media. We can't get away from it, no matter how hard we try. No matter how much power you may gain and how much it becomes what is accepted and "politically correct" it is still morally wrong. You cannot change the word of God to fit your needs anymore than straight people can. Right will always be right and wrong will always be wrong. And sin is always sin. You may love the sinner but you cannot condone living life in a sinful manner. Maybe next we will legislate that it is morally acceptable to commit adultry but it will still be wrong. Maybe it makes everyone feel better to have what they call "rights" and maybe it makes it easier to live with yourself and your "lifestyle", but just know, at the end you will be judged not only for the way you live but for everything in between.
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Name: Allen
Date posted: 10/2/2008 12:02:00 PM
Hometown: Royalston MA

Comment:
I am very excited about the possibility that we will get the Museum to cancel its plan to award Dobson. If you go to their web site you will see various email addresses for the CEO (DuMont) and other staff members, including the development department. No self-respecting gay person, or any of our straight allies, should send this museum money if they award Dobson, who is truly evil. In the documentary film, "The Bible Tells Me So," there is a poignant interview with the mother of a lesbian who blames Dobson for the suicide death of her lesbian daughter. The mother, after reading Dobson's books, rejected her daughter in a cold and heartless manner. The daughter took her own life, and now the mother mourns - and blames Dobson for indoctrinating her against her own daughter. This scene made me weep.
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Name: Sam
Date posted: 10/2/2008 11:53:00 AM
Hometown: Madison, WI

Comment:
Why stop with Dobson? Perhaps they should induct Father Coughlin into the Hall of Sh/Fame posthumously. His radio career was very similar. And, gosh, there's Rush and BillyO and....
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Name: Bob Smullen
Date posted: 10/2/2008 10:20:00 AM
Hometown: Hackensack, NJ

Comment:
I tried to post the web site for the Radio Hall of Fame, but for whatever reason the Advocate would not post the comment. (They may filter out web sites). But if you do a google on "Museum of Broadcast Communications" you will be able to follow the links to the Radio Hall of Fame Steering Committee, as well as find a link that lets you email "Media Questions" to a Gina Doyle.
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Name: Bill
Date posted: 10/2/2008 10:00:00 AM
Hometown: Saint Louis

Comment:
I say we also flood their office with letters and faxes: The Museum of Broadcast Communications 400 N. State Street Suite 240 Chicago, IL 60610 (312) 245.8200 Fax: (213) 245.8207
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Name: rusty
Date posted: 10/2/2008 9:54:00 AM
Hometown: Seattle

Comment:
E-Mail Radio Hall of Fame CEO Bruce Dumont, brucedumont@museum.tv, and urge him to withdraw Dobson’s honor. DUMPDOBSON.com THERE YOU GO . . . Support WAYNE BESEN
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Name: Allen
Date posted: 10/2/2008 9:23:00 AM
Hometown: Royalston MA

Comment:
Before reading the comments above, I said, "Why doesn't the Advocate provide the link to the Museum so I can register my protest? Oh well, I guess I will use Google to get the information." The Advocate should think about its name -- this publication is an advocate for our community, and providing the specific link (at least web site and phone number) of the offending Museum of Broadcasting is a very good example of advocacy.
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Name: Jonboy
Date posted: 10/2/2008 7:24:00 AM
Hometown: Winner, SD

Comment:
The Advocate informs by this article getting the gay community interested and yet leaves no method to respond! That is like putting a race horse to stable WET................ Come on. Be part of the solution not part of the problem.
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Name: Allen Levy
Date posted: 10/2/2008 12:27:00 AM
Hometown: Los Angeles

Comment:
Yes, please provide names and a link to let the museum know how people feel about such an insulting "honor."
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Name: Hey Advocage
Date posted: 10/2/2008 12:27:00 AM
Hometown: USA

Comment:
Yeah, the advocate should post web links and phone numbers with this kind of article.

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