PETITION CLOSED

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Demand CBS Stop Allowing Hate Groups to Spread Lies about ENDA
  1. Signatures
    369 out of 500
    Petitioning
    1. CBSNews.com Editor-in-Chief (Dan Farber)
  2. Created By
    Michael Jones
    Boston, MA
About this Petition Petition Letter

In recent coverage surrounding the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), CBS News featured the voice of a representative from the Traditional Values Coalition (TVC). The TVC is a die-hard opponent of ENDA, legislation that would protect people from being fired from their jobs due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.

While opposing viewpoints on ENDA can be expected from a major news organization like CBS, the TVC happens to be a nationally recognized hate group.  They've been labeled as such by the Southern Poverty Law Center, in large part because of their working spreading lies and misinformation about LGBT rights. Among the lies championed by the TVC are that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are "threats to America," and that LGBT teachers would harm children.

Why would CBS let a voice like this go on their airwaves?

Send a message to CBSNews.com's Editor-in-Chief, letting him know that when covering issues as important as workplace discrimination, it's imperative not to let nationally recognized hate groups define the debate. Given the lengthy track record of hate comments from the TVC, CBS should aim higher. Hate groups should not be given talk time on major national news networks.

Recent Signatures

Stop Allowing Hate Groups to Define the Debate on the Employment Nondiscrimination Act

Dear Mr. Farber,

Recently, the CBS news show Washington Unplugged featured a debate about the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA), featuring a representative from the Human Rights Campaign and the Traditional Values Coalition.

ENDA is a particularly important piece of legislation, and it certainly merits coverage by CBS. Workplace discrimination impacts thousands of people each year. Yet, by giving a platform to the Traditional Values Coalition, a nationally-recognized hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, you are allowing the debate over ENDA to be framed in dangerous, destructive and hateful ways.

The Traditional Values Coalition has said in the past that gays and lesbians threaten America; that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people don't belong in the classroom; and that gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people are not qualified to serve in government, solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Statements like these are far outside of the mainstream. Yet, when a major news organization like CBS gives someone from the Traditional Values Coalition a platform to speak about LGBT rights issues, you send the message that they are a legitimate political actor.

They are not. Simply put, they are a hate group, and major news networks shouldn't be in the business of seeking professional political opinions from hate groups.

I understand that CBS will continue to cover issues like ENDA, and it's important that you do. I'd encourage you in the future to be much more careful about the voices you let on your network to talk about an issue like workplace discrimination. Opposing viewpoints should be included. But hate groups should not be.

Thanks for your time.

[Your name]

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