Assoc Press playing Activist: bans use of words “husband,” “wife” for legally-wed gay couples
Interesting. Didn’t know that an apex news organization would have a deliberate slant on a controversial issue. AP wants to play the role of an activist in this whole drama that has gripped only US really. I don’t know of any other country, where this issue gives a headache to so many at the political level. Wonder how you can trust the impartiality of the news coming from their channels anymore?
There appears to be open dissension at the Associated Press (AP) over the media entity’s new policy, announced yesterday, not to necessarily refer to legally-wed gay couples in the same way they refer to legally-wed straight ones. A lead AP reporter covering LGBT issues, David Crary, has said that he won’t follow the new policy.
______________
Shortly after an internal AP memo banning the use of the words “husband” and “wife” for legally-wed gay couples was leaked, AP changed its story – they think they fixed the problem. They most certainly did not. AP even tweeted me that it’s fixed:
But it’s not fixed at all.
Now AP has a ban on the terms husband and wife for gay couples unless the couples use the term about themselves. Is that AP’s standard for straight couples too? Only call straight people husband and wife if the couple calls themselves husband and wife? I doubt it.
From AP’s memo:
SAME-SEX COUPLES: We were asked how to report about same-sex couples who call themselves “husband” and “wife.” Our view is that such terms may be used in AP content if those involved have regularly used those terms (“Smith is survived by his husband, John Jones”) or in quotes attributed to them. Generally AP uses couples or partners to describe people in civil unions or same-sex marriages.
Related articles from External Sources
AP Decides ‘Husband’ And ‘Wife’ Only Applies To Straight Folks
Associated Press Tells Writers Not To Use “Husband,” “Wife” For Same-Sex Couples
AP reporter: I won’t follow new anti-gay rule banning terms “husband” “wife”
AP Restricts Use of ‘Husband’ and ‘Wife’ to Married Hetero Couples
Associated Press: ‘Husband’ and ‘Wife’ Are for Heterosexual Couples Only
AP Memo Says People in Gay Marriages Are “Couples or Partners”
