The Media Research Center (MRC) produced a video attacking Hillary Clinton for evolving on marriage equality, but that organization has no credibility on the issue, having promoted anti-LGBT messages for over two decades.
MRC released a video hosted by Dan Joseph in which he asked people on the campus of George Mason University to identify quotes out of context from someone opposed to marriage equality. When most of the people identified the unnamed speaker as a conservative or Republican, Joseph revealed that the quotes came from Hillary Clinton. The video portrayed Clinton's evolution on the issue - she announced support for marriage equality in a 2013 video produced by the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT advocacy group - as politically cynical.
The video was recently revived after a discussion of Clinton's position came up during the promotional tour for her book, Hard Choices.
But MRC has no room to criticize Clinton. The conservative group, which was founded in 1987, has been staunchly opposed to LGBT rights for over two decades, and has taken multiple opportunities to attack any outlet that portray LGBT people as anything other than freaks and outcasts.
MRC figures have complained about Hollywood's “agenda” to “advance the cause of homosexuality,” attacked comic books with gay characters, and bemoaned the failure of television networks to tell their viewers “that homosexuality is morally wrong.”
Recent headlines on Newsbusters, the MRC blog devoted to “combating liberal media bias,” include: “WashPost Promotes Gay Marriage in Virginia With 'Aggressively Normal' Lesbian Tableau; Opponents Ignored”; “Media Go Ga-Ga for Gay Christians”; and “Twice in 24 Hours, ABC Touts Pro-Gay Cracker Ad; Network Assailed Mozilla Exec.”
MRC has done this for decades, without bringing its position into the modern era, while Clinton has noted she “constantly reevaluated” where she stood on the issue, eventually arriving at her current pro-equality position.
Here are some of the lowlights from MRC's decades-long drumbeat against LGBT equality:
MRC's Tim Graham: Same-Sex Wedding Ceremony At Grammys Was “Musical Agitprop To Mock ... Traditional Values.” MRC's Tim Graham said that a ceremony during the 2014 Grammys where 34 same-sex and opposite sex couples were married was “a piece of musical agitprop to mock the traditional values of conservative American Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others.”
They can say this is not a stunt, but that's exactly what it is, a piece of musical agitprop to mock the traditional values of conservative American Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others. Entertainers never want to have a debate, just a series of arrogant “statements” with no opportunity for a conversation as they flush the Bible on national TV. [Media Research Center, 1/26/14]
Gainor Complained: “We Live In A PC Era” Where Anti-LGBT Discrimination Is Shunned. During the same appearance on the Janet Mefferd Show, Gainor complained that “we live in a PC era where people are bombarded 24/7 with media preaching what the left defines as tolerance, which is intolerance.” He added, “If you think that I should have some sort of special right that's never existed in our country's history, but we're gonna create it out of whole cloth, then you're tolerant. If you think that we're should continue to do what we've done for hundreds of years. Oh, you're intolerant. You're a bigot. You're an 'ist' of some sort.” [Salem Radio Network, The Janet Mefferd Show, 11/6/13]
MRC's Dan Gainor Warned Of Satanic Gay Orgies In Church Halls. Appearing on the Janet Mefferd Show, MRC's Dan Gainor warned that churches could be forced to rent out church halls to gay groups, who “could have a satantic orgy in your church hall.” He also worried that, “if you're a photographer, and you're a Christian, you could be forced to photograph it, or you will go to jail or be fined.” [Salem Radio Network, The Janet Mefferd Show, 11/6/13]
Bozell: Gay Characters On Children's Television Are “Propaganda.” In his October 25, 2013 column, Bozell protested that the existence of gay characters on channels like “Teen Nick, Cartoon Network and the Disney Channel” was “propaganda” and said that LGBT advocacy group GLAAD's push for more inclusive television was proof “they want children indoctrinated as well”:
They want children indoctrinated as well. GLAAD is also not shy when it comes to Teen Nick, Cartoon Network and the Disney Channel. Apparently, children also desperately need the propaganda of gay characters in 42 percent of programming hours. They're extremely happy with the liberalism of “ABC Family” and have relayed that Disney Channel executives promised GLAAD they will “introduce LGBT characters in an episode of its original series 'Good Luck Charlie' set to air in 2014, a first for the network.” The first of many, they expect. [Townhall.com,10/25/13]
MRC's Graham Asked If Bullying Claims By Gay Teen Were “Overwrought.” In 2011, MRC's Tim Graham complained that the media was being too sympathetic to a 14-year-old whose YouTube video about bullying had gone viral. After the child appeared on Good Morning America, Graham wrote, “No one wondered if perhaps Mowry's accusation of constant daily bullying since first grade was overwrought. But the networks can't even show any skepticism or neutrality or nuance. ” [Media Research Center, 12/15/11, via Equality Matters]
MRC Report Attacked CNN For “Supporting Homosexual Causes.” A 2011 report released by MRC criticized CNN for failing to “represent both sides” in the debate over same sex marriage and accused the network of showing “clear advocacy for homosexual causes” in its coverage. Among their examples, MRC cited CNN reporting on Atlanta being named the “Nation's Gayest City” and challenging the effectiveness of “ex-gay” therapy. [Media Research Center, 7/28/11, via Equality Matters]
Bozell: “Why Can't A Single Primetime Show Say - With No Strings Attached - That Homosexuality Is Morally Wrong?” In a 1992 article in The Hollywood Reporter, Bozell was quoted saying Hollywood demonstrates “liberal bias” by failing to portray gay people as “morally wrong.” He asked, “Why can't a single primetime show say -- with no strings attached -- that homosexuality is morally wrong?” [Media Matters, 6/23/10]
Bozell: “The Only Characters On [Glee] Disapproving Of Homosexuality Are Vicious School Bullies.” In a 2010 column, Bozell attacked the Fox TV drama Glee. He argued that “The only characters on the show disapproving of homosexuality are vicious school bullies,” and that “Everyone else in this series approves, endorses or participates in the homosexual lifestyle.”
The only characters on the show disapproving of homosexuality are vicious school bullies. In the May 25 episode, two brutish football players threatened to pummel the openly gay and riotously effeminate character Kurt for dressing up like a girl. Everyone else in this series approves, endorses or participates in the homosexual lifestyle. [Townhall.com, 6/4/10]
Bozell: Comic Books With Gay Characters Are “A Red Light Neighborhood” With “Sexually Perverted Superheroes.” In a 2006 column, Bozell complained about gay characters in comic books and asked, “Who would have predicted, ten years ago, that the comics would become a red-light neighborhood where sexually perverted superheroes would be packaged to elicit from children fascination and sympathy?” [Media Research Center, 6/9/06]
MRC's Brent Bozell: Hollywood Has An “Agenda” To “Advance The Cause Of Homosexuality As Normal Behavior.” In a 1999 New York Daily News article about a character on the show Dawson's Creek coming out, MRC founder Brent Bozell is quoted lamenting the “agenda in Hollywood to advance the cause of homosexuality as normal behavior by making those who think otherwise the deviants. A character can put forward an argument, but you can be sure it's a character who moonlights as a troglodyte.” [New York Daily News, 2/24/99]
Bozell: “If You Are Trying To Teach [Children] That The Homosexual Lifestyle Is Decadent And Immoral, Understand That Television Is Telling Them Just The Opposite.” In a 1996 column Bozell wrote that “during its 1995-'96 season, prime time television tried as never before to legitimize the homosexual lifestyle” and “If you are trying to teach them that the homosexual lifestyle is decadent and immoral, understand that television is telling them just the opposite.” [Media Research Center, 9/25/96]
MRC On Philadelphia: “Anybody Who Was Morally Opposed To The Gay Lifestyle Was Presented As A Total Bigot.” In 1996, MRC's Sandy Crawford criticized Philadelphia, the Oscar-winning film about a gay man who sued a law firm for discriminating against him for having AIDS: “Philadelphia' was a good film -- beautifully acted and very compelling. But anybody who was morally opposed to the gay lifestyle was presented as a total bigot. You either were 100 percent for Tom Hanks or you were a villain.” [Kansas City Star, 3/96, via Media Matters]