To this paper, there is apparently something wrong with that

[dooley_womack1]

Paper in Utah refuses to run wedding announcement of gay couple who legally married in Cali in 2008 (announcement was to be in advance of a family gathering).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090813/ap_on_re_us/us_gay_marriage_newspaper

A Gannett paper, the chain that supposedly so values diversity.

 

[buckweaver]

Jones, 30, said he initially agreed to the paper's request that the announcement run without a photo, after a clerk told him the publisher feared the picture might make readers uncomfortable. Then Jones changed his mind and appealed to publisher Donnie Welch, asking him to reconsider.

"After all, our marriage is just as real and legal and entitled to celebration as any of the others that are announced each week in the pages of The Spectrum," Jones, 30, wrote in an e-mail to Welch.

"This simply is not true," Welch replied in an Aug. 10 e-mail, a copy of which the couple provided to The Associated Press. "While that may be the case in some states it is not the case in the state of Utah. As our policy is to run marriage announcements recognized by Utah law, I have made the decision not to run the announcement."

A policy he undoubtedly came up with ... on Aug. 9. :

 

[User 4332]

I wonder what, if anything, corporate will have to say about this publisher's decision.

I worked at a small Gannett daily in an ultra-conservative area a few years ago and it would run these announcements. Took a lot of flak every time one ran, but they did it. The policy there was if the marriage was legally recognized in the jurisdiction it was performed, then the paper would run it. I assumed all Gannett papers had a similar policy.

 

[golfnut8924]

Keep in mind folks that this is Utah we're talking about. Not exactly the most open minded state. I don't think it's as much of a Gannett issue as it is a Utah issue.

 

[crusoes]

Paper in Utah refuses to run wedding announcement of gay couple who legally married in Cali in 2008 (announcement was to be in advance of a family gathering).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090813/ap_on_re_us/us_gay_marriage_newspaper

A Gannett paper, the chain that supposedly so values diversity.

It does. It values Anglos AND Saxons.

 

[BillyT]

Where is the Elkhart Truth when you need it!

 

[DanOregon]

Gannett values money. It will blow off a $150-200 wedding announcement if it might cost them a $2,000 a month advertiser. Being St. George's location, I wonder how many group shots they've run in the wedding section.

 

[Stitch]

Gannett values money. It will blow off a $150-200 wedding announcement if it might cost them a $2,000 a month advertiser. Being St. George's location, I wonder how many group shots they've run in the wedding section.

For those who think the publisher is intolerant, those who militantly advocate for gay marriage don't strike me as being open minded.

Who said that gay marriage had to be okay? It's not as if the majority of the country approves of it.

 

[buckweaver]

Gannett values money. It will blow off a $150-200 wedding announcement if it might cost them a $2,000 a month advertiser. Being St. George's location, I wonder how many group shots they've run in the wedding section.

None, don't be a ******. As for those who think the publisher is intolerant, those who militantly advocate for gay marriage don't strike me as being open minded.

Well, that certainly makes it OK.

 

[Stitch]

Gannett values money. It will blow off a $150-200 wedding announcement if it might cost them a $2,000 a month advertiser. Being St. George's location, I wonder how many group shots they've run in the wedding section.

None, don't be a ******. As for those who think the publisher is intolerant, those who militantly advocate for gay marriage does not strike me as being open minded.

Well, that certainly makes it OK.

 

[DanOregon]

Stitch, my comment was aimed at the polygamous sect near St. George, not all LDS, but I agree, it was a gratuitous shot by me.
That said, I can't believe a publisher made the comment that a picture might make readers "uncomfortable." That right there is why newspapers have lost their way. Newspapers should never be afraid to ruffle a few feathers. I realize the area is very conservative, but this is going to cause a bigger stink than just running the thing would have done. Gannett can't claim with a straight face that they allow individual newspapers to establish standards that reflect the communities they serve, because they don't. I wonder if it would have been different if they just bought a regular ad - Gannett's standards there seem a bit lower.

 

[Stitch]

Dan, I apologize for my insult and deleted it in my post.

 

[GRUDGE]

those who militantly advocate for gay marriage don't strike me as being open minded.
Who said that gay marriage had to be okay? It's not as if the majority of the country approves of it.
[/quote]

I agree.

 

[forever_town]

For those who think the publisher is intolerant, those who militantly advocate for gay marriage don't strike me as being open minded.

Why should I be open minded toward people who are bigoted toward me?

Answer that one for me, Stitch. You're on the clock. :

 

[DanOregon]

You know, I checked out that paper's website, read through some of the forums. Seems like it's a pretty conservative outfit, editorial forums on Obama's birth certificate, a running thread on the FLDS bust in Texas from a year ago...., I'm not surprised they took that position. On another front though, I think Gannett DOES allow people to include domestic partners on its health care coverage.

 

[Stitch]

For those who think the publisher is intolerant, those who militantly advocate for gay marriage don't strike me as being open minded.

Why should I be open minded toward people who are bigoted toward me?

Answer that one for me, Stitch. You're on the clock. :

You don't have to be open minded and neither do I.

 

[Stitch]

You know, I checked out that paper's website, read through some of the forums. Seems like it's a pretty conservative outfit, editorial forums on Obama's birth certificate, a running thread on the FLDS bust in Texas from a year ago...., I'm not surprised they took that position. On another front though, I think Gannett DOES allow people to include domestic partners on its health care coverage.

Southern Utah has to be one of the most conservative areas in the West. More so than Provo/Orem or Logan. They don't call rural GOP legislators from Utah the Cowboy Caucus just for the heck of it.

 

[schiezainc]

Well, thank goodness newspapers are doing so well that we can just start refusing paid announcements and whatnot.



Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go finish getting dressed. Clearly, it's still 1985 and I've got a hot date ready to go see the premiere of Back To The Future.

 

[Stitch]

Well, thank goodness newspapers are doing so well that we can just start refusing paid announcements and whatnot.



Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go finish getting dressed. Clearly, it's still 1985 and I've got a hot date ready to go see the premiere of Back To The Future.

They can afford to turn down this when accepting it would lead to big advertisers pulling ads. And if you think don't think that matters, try pitching a story on how to get the best deal from car dealers.

 

[sportschick]

For those who think the publisher is intolerant, those who militantly advocate for gay marriage don't strike me as being open minded.

Why should I be open minded toward people who are bigoted toward me?

Answer that one for me, Stitch. You're on the clock. :

You don't have to be open minded and neither do I.

You're welcome to be a bigot all you want, stitch. But don't get upset when the rest of us call you what you are. An ugly hateful bigot.