by Joe Siegel

Many in the LGBTQ community were shocked and saddened by Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the November 5 presidential election. Fears of further attacks on LGBTQ rights as well as a crackdown on press freedoms have been widespread. Publishers and editors in LGBTQ media have vowed to fight what many call Trump’s authoritarian agenda when he retakes power next January.

Seth Stern, a member of the Freedom Of The Press Foundation, wrote on November 7, “Since his first term ended, Trump has repeatedly called for journalists to be imprisoned and raped for not revealing their sources. Just days ago, he publicly fantasized about a mass shooting of journalists at one of his rallies. He wants to sic federal agencies from the Federal Election Commission to the Federal Communications Commission to the Department of Justice on his perceived enemies, including reporters he doesn’t like. … In his second term, Trump will make good on these anti-press threats to try to destroy any news outlet, journalist, or whistleblower who criticizes or opposes him.”

Kevin Naff, editor of the Washington Blade, spoke strongly about standing up to any moves to restrict press freedom. “LGBTQ editors and columnists should be more forceful than ever in standing up to the corruption and calling out the incompetence of the incoming Trump administration. With mainstream outlets folding like cheap tents — Washington Post, LA Times, MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ — the work of niche media, and queer media, in particular takes on an urgent, renewed importance. … The Blade will continue our 55-year tradition of speaking truth to power and holding the administration accountable for its promised attacks on the trans community.”

The Blade is the only LGBTQ media outlet that has had access to the White House Briefing Room. But Naff isn’t worried about Trump taking that away. “I am not worried about being banned from the White House. The White House Correspondents’ Association manages the briefing room, not the administration. The Blade will be in the room and at the table asking the important questions on behalf of our community as usual.”

Other LGBTQ editors have taken a similar stance.

“We will continue what we have always done at PGN, which is giving voice to our community and holding our leaders accountable,” said Jeremy Rodriguez, editor of the Philadelphia Gay News. “I’m not concerned about the government cracking down on the press. Our LGBTQ+ community is incredibly resilient. If they try to silence us, we’ll just shout even louder. Our community has historically done this and I’m sure we will continue to do so.”

“LGBTQ editors and columnists absolutely should not be more cautious in criticizing the Trump administration,” said Cynthia Laird, news editor for San Francisco-based Bay Area Reporter. “Bending the knee, like MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski recently did with their trip to Mar-a-Lago to visit with President-elect Donald Trump, casts a pall over a free press and reminds me of the many problems with the mainstream media —  namely, the extremely low bar when covering Trump and not holding him to a standard that would normally derail any other politician. It will be a scary time for many in the LGBTQ community once Trump takes office. I think the paper’s role is to report on that, as well as to publish articles that offer suggestions and guidance as to what people can do.”

According to Leo Cusimano and Tammy Nash, publisher and managing editor, respectively, of the Dallas Voice, now is not the time to back down.

“Rather than backing down or hiding out, now is the time to ramp up efforts to shine a light on the hatred, bigotry and fascism that Trump and his second administration represent,” they said in a statement. “Now is the time to speak up rather than shut up and hide out.”

“Do I think the Trump administration will try to silence the press — the real journalists, not the paid sycophants that call themselves journalists? Absolutely. Will we let them silence us? Not without a fight,” Cusimano added.

“In the 1980s, thanks to ACT UP, the phrase Silence = Death, with its pink triangle on black background, became a rallying cry for the LGBTQ community and others in the fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Nash. “Today, Silence = Death is just as relevant to the LGBTQ community in a different way. We will not stay silent.”

IN THE NEWS
Volume 26
Issue 10