May 16, 2008  |  By: CHRIS JOHNSON  | COMMENTS     

A local television station’s recent newscast about a debate between gay and “ex-gay” groups is drawing criticism from gay advocates who argue the piece gave too much credence to “ex-gay” groups and only a perfunctory nod to the medical community’s views on sexual orientation.

The newscast, which aired May 5 on WJLA-TV, the ABC television affiliate in Washington, includes views from both sides on whether or not a person can change their sexual orientation.

Greta Kreuz, the reporter who put together the piece, began her coverage by describing how Ryan Sorba, author of “The Born Gay Hoax,” was “overrun and drowned out” by protesters when speaking about his book at Smith College.

“An example, some say, of how militant gay activists hijacked public debate on homosexuality,” Kreuz says.

Also included in the piece is a self-identified ex-gay referred to as “David,” whose face was concealed during the newscast. Kreuz says David’s identity was hidden because he would be harassed by gays if he were identified.

“I’m working on becoming more heterosexual,” David says, “I believe that it is possible.”

Wayne Besen, executive director of TruthWinsOut.org, an organization geared toward countering “ex-gay” organizations, called the WJLA piece “incredibly biased” and said it “bought the right-wing spin hook, line and sinker.”

Besen, who was featured in the newscast, said the report assumes that “there is a two-sided scientific debate” when in fact “there is one side that is the mainstream mental health community” and on other side “there is a small fringe group of religious activists.”

“I don’t know that this was very reflected in this report,” he said. “I was very disappointed with that.”

He criticized WJLA for not mentioning the “weird and bizarre methods” that ex-gay groups use to change people and the fact that “ex-gay” groups have no science to back up their claims.

“These therapists are victimizers who hurt thousands of people every year,” he said. “And this report turned the victimizers into victims.”

Kreuz told the Blade she believes the piece was “very balanced” and noted that three of five subjects in the newscast were gay advocates.