Fox News Ignored First Transgender Person To Address Major Party's Convention
CNN And MSNBC Carried Sarah McBride’s Speech Live
Published
Fox News did not air Sarah McBride’s speech at the Democratic National Convention, where she made history becoming the first openly transgender person to speak at a major party’s convention. Fox did however carry Peter Thiel’s speech to the Republican National Convention live, where he made history announcing to the Republican convention that he is gay. CNN and MSNBC aired both McBride’s and Thiel’s speeches.
Sarah McBride Made History As First Openly Transgender Person To Speak At A Convention
Sarah McBride Spoke At The Democratic National Convention About Transgender Equality. In her July 28 speech, Human Rights Campaign Foundation press secretary Sarah McBride spoke about the need “to pass the Equality Act, to combat violence against transgender women of color, and to end the HIV and AIDS epidemic once and for all.” She further noted, “Today in America, LGBTQ people are still targeted by hate that lives in both laws and in hearts.” [Human Rights Campaign, 7/28/16; C-SPAN, Democratic National Convention, 7/28/16]
Sarah McBride Is The First Openly Transgender Person To Speak At A Major Party Convention. McBride made history as the first openly transgender person to address a major party convention. [Time, 7/26/16]
Fox News Ignored McBride’s Speech, While CNN And MSNBC Carried The Historic Event Live
McBride’s Speech Was Not Carried By Fox, Which Instead Remained On Regularly Scheduled Broadcasting. Despite having pre-convention coverage, Fox News ignored McBride’s historic speech. CNN and MSNBC carried the entire speech live.
Fox Aired Live Remarks From Gay Republican Convention Speaker, Called Trump’s Mention Of LGBT People A “History-Making Moment”
Three Cable News Channels Aired RNC Speech From Peter Thiel Live, Who Made History Acknowledging His Sexual Orientation At Republican Convention. All three cable news channels, including Fox News, aired all or most of openly gay libertarian and PayPal founder Peter Thiel’s July 21 speech at the Republican National Convention live. In his speech, Thiel said that he was “proud to be gay” -- a first for a speaker at the Republican convention. [CNN, Republican National Convention, 7/21/16; MSNBC, Republican National Convention, 7/21/16; Fox News, The Kelly File, 7/21/16, via Media Matters]
Fox Chyron: “History-Making Moment, Trump Promised To Protect LGBTQ Community.” Fox correspondent John Roberts claimed that with Trump’s remarks acknowledging the LGBT community, he “has become a champion for the cause.” Fox co-host Ainsley Earhardt also claimed that Thiel and Trump’s remarks represented “The new GOP.” The chyron during the segment labeled the speech a “history-making moment." [Fox News, Fox & Friends, 7/22/16, via Media Matters]
Fox Previously Ignored Democratic Convention Speaker By Mother Whose Son Was Killed In Orlando Massacre Targeting LGBT Community. Both CNN and MSNBC aired a moving speech from Christine Leinonen, a mother whose son was killed at the Orlando, FL, massacre at a gay nightclub, during the Democratic National Convention on July 27. Fox News ignored Leinonen’s speech, instead holding a panel discussion about inner city poverty and Donald Trump’s appeal to disaffected voters. [Media Matters, 7/27/16]