Frontlines: The Latest from OutServe-SLDN

News Hounds on FOX & Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell

If you happened to be tuned into FOX News on Saturday afternoon, you might have caught a segment on the network's The Big Story about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the continued dismissal of lesbian and gay linguists. The segment featured Jason Knight, a Hebrew linguist who just got back from a tour of duty in Kuwait, and who was recently discharged under the ban. When my phone rang on Saturday afternoon, the FOX producer assured me that, if we were able to find a linguist to speak on-air, that person would find the show's host, Julie Banderas (pictured), more "fair and balanced" than we might be expecting. And she was right. On Sunday, the News Hounds blog (motto: We watch FOX so you don't have to) had this to say about the segment: I couldn’t believe that I was watching Fox when Banderas said “the military are in desperate need of Arabic language specialists who help with the war on terror; but dozens are being fired because they’re gay.” The feeling that I had entered into an alternate reality was reinforced when she read an e-mail from a heterosexual soldier who said that he would be “honored to be joined by a homosexual on the front line.” Banderas then read another e-mail form a straight soldier who said that he “had no problem serving with a homosexual battle buddy so long as they were expected to perform the same as everybody else. If they can do their job well and do everything as of part of team, what does it matter what they do behind closed doors. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness – how and where you experience these freedoms weren’t part of the bargain.” Knight noted that this e-mail was consistent with the support that he received from his peers. He said that gays in the military are taught the same values of professionalism and respect for their job and “we all do it as well as everybody else and have every right to serve our country as well as anybody else.” To this eloquent statement, Julie Banderas, Fox employee, said “absolutely.” At any rate, considering that this is Memorial Day Weekend – a time to honor the service of those who served and continue to serve honorably – this affirmation that gays in the military also serve honorably is fitting. One small step for Fox; one very big step for those in the gay community who, like their heterosexual counterparts, wear the uniform with dignity and pride. Thanks to News Hounds for covering the segment, and to Banderas for truly stepping forward and trying to tell the real story behind "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." You can read the full News Hounds synopsis online here. - Steve Ralls

Labels: in the news, jason knight, linguists

05-29-07