Friday, October 16, 2009

The Daily Mail Publishes Homophobic Article Regarding Death of Boyzone Singer

The Daily Mail, a daily British tabloid newspaper has published a disgusting homophobic piece about the death of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately.

The tabloid calls Gately's story "A strange, lonely and troubling death" The piece has attracted outrage and thousands of complaints to the tabloid, with two topics trending on twitter about the newspaper. While all media and police accounts point to his death as being a tragic natural consequence, the Daily Mail decides to blame his death on his "dark appetite" for homosexuality.

The newspaper uses this tragic death of a talented singer and gay rights hero, who will be missed by his life-partner, family, and millions of fans to argue:


"The real sadness about Gately's death is that it strikes another blow to the happy-ever-after myth of civil partnerships.

Gay activists are always calling for tolerance and understanding about same-sex relationships, arguing that they are just the same as heterosexual marriages. Not everyone, they say, is like George Michael.

As a gay rights champion, I am sure he would want to set an example to any impressionable young men who may want to emulate what they might see as his glamorous routine.

For once again, under the carapace of glittering, hedonistic celebrity, the ooze of a very different and more dangerous lifestyle has seeped out for all to see"
The Daily Mail"
This article is filled with homophobia, and is a direct insult to Gately's memory, his family, fans and to all members of the LGBT community.

Demand The Daily Mail rescind and apologize for this article.

Associated Newspapers Limited
Northcliffe House
2 Derry Street
London W8 5TT

020 7938 6000

News and features - 020 7938 6000 / news@dailymail.co.uk
Send letters to the Editor at letters@dailymail.co.uk

7 comments:

urban bohemian said...

Thanks for highlighting this. The current article's title was actually changed in response to the negative feedback. It originally said: Why there was nothing 'natural' about Stephen Gately's death as seen on the lower left in this screen capture: http://www.twitpic.com/lqchu

It infuriates me that his sad and sudden passing has to be tainted by some homophobic reasoning that there had to be "something going on".

Anonymous said...

PLEASE also complain to the Press Complaints Commission for breaches of sections 1, 5 and 12 of its Codes of Practice at www.pcc.org.uk. They can MAKE the Daily Mail apologize.

The article is disgusting, disrespectful, innuendo-laden and insulting. The Daily Mail has always been an awful newspaper but this is utterly unacceptable from one of Britain's leading tabloids.

Anonymous said...

It's a terrible article, I agree. There are plenty of self destructive straight celebrities--being a celebrity is a terrible life for many. Being gay has nothing to do with his tragic death.

Anonymous said...

It is a dull, spiteful article written by a failed human being intent upon using the tragedy as a way of puffing out their chest and showing off the stupidity they mistake for depth of insight. Dsigusting.

libhom said...

I dutifully sent the Daily Mail my nastygram. I love the YouTube video Manchestester Pride made set to Lily Allen's Fuck You.

Anonymous said...

Shocking article! If we stand by and not complain then a paper like this this will only continue to set progression back by years.

Anonymous said...

I think Jan Moir's article is quite restrained, and agree with her that this story - along with gay divorces - damages claims that gay relationships are on a par with straight ones.

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