Gay Hater James Dobson Scheduled to be Honored in Chicago

Those who have been reading the LGBT papers the past few weeks will know that a tempest is brewing over the decision by Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications to honor anti-gay hater James Dobson. Dobson, the focal point of one of the religious right's most powerful media empires, uses his organization's milllions of dollars to pour out hate against LGBT people, insist on "traditional" roles for women and men, and push for discriminatory legislation against us.

Fortunately, many people in Chicago are not taking the museum's irresponsible acts lying down. Working with gay leader Wayne Besen, the Gay Liberation Network has begun working on a campaign to get the museum to rescind the honor and, failing that, protest at the induction ceremony, Saturday, November 8, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM, Renaissance Chicago Hotel, 1 W. Wacker Drive.

For more background here is a GLN letter that appeared in both of Chicago's main LGBT papers:

An Open Letter Regarding Honoring Hate Gays Leader James Dobson

Bruce DuMontPresident, Museum of Broadcast CommunicationsChicago, Illinois

Dear Bruce DuMont:

We are outraged by the planned induction of Rev. James Dobson into the Museum of Broadcast Communications' Hall of Fame. Dobson has made hatred against lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual people a centerpiece of his "ministry."

For example, Dobson told The Daily Oklahoman on Oct. 23, 2004, "Homosexuals are not monogamous. They want to destroy the institution of marriage. It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth."

Dobson has manipulated research results to back his anti-gay teachings. Letters and videos documenting the concerns of respected researcjers can be viewed at TruthWinsOut.org and RespectMyResearch.org.

Dobson founded a "ministry"-- Love Won Out-- that promises to “cure” homosexuals, even though such "reparative therapy" is condemned by every respected medical and mental health association in America, including the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

We believe that you and your associates at the broadcast museum must be aware of Dobson's contribution to anti-gay hate, and yet you chose to ignore, or perhaps even applaud, his harm to our community. Museums should be places that celebrate the best of human endeavor, not the worst.

You told a Windy City Times reporter that when nominations are considered, "There is no discussion of politics." You called Dobson's record "remarkable." Excuse us if we don't describe anti-gay hate mongering as "remarkable!" Neither do we accept your transparent "no politics" rationalization, likely calculated to attract right-wing dollars.

During the 1930s, the widely listened-to yet odious Father Charles Coughlin had a "remarkable" record too, preaching hatred of Jews to millions as he fawned over German Nazis and Italian Fascists. Why is he not among the Hall of Fame honorees?

Assuming that David Duke had a successful radio program, are we to believe that your Hall of Fame would induct the notorious racist? We both know the answer to these questions.

While open racism against Jews and Blacks is properly shunned by most people, it seems that gays are still considered expendable in some quarters. Shockingly, this appears to include the Museum of Broadcast Communications and its Hall of Fame.

We demand that Dobson's inclusion in the Hall of Fame be rescinded. In the event that this does not occur, along with gay leader Wayne Beson we are organizing a protest of the bigot's induction to the broadcast museum's Hall of Fame:

Saturday November 8.

Renaissance Chicago Hotel, One West Wacker Drive, Chicago

5:30 to 7:30 PM

We urge other LGBT community organizations and individuals, and all fair minded people, to protest this disgusting "honor."

Truly yours,

Gay Liberation NetworkChicago