CHICAGO – The Dump Dobson coalition, a partnership of local and national gay, lesbian bisexual and transgender organizations, is holding a press conference this Thursday at 11 a.m. outside of the Renaissance Chicago Hotel (1 West Wacker Drive), to denounce the Museum of Broadcast Communications for its plan to honor James Dobson in its Radio Hall of Fame. The awards ceremony is planned for Nov. 8. and the Dump Dobson Coalition is strongly urging MBC Founder Bruce DuMont, to rescind the award or face a protest outside of the dinner.
"Bruce DuMont would never honor a Don Imus, disgraced for his anti-African American remarks," said Bob Schwartz of the Chicago-based Gay Liberation Network. "Nor would 1930s radio icon Father Charles Caughlin – the widely syndicated pro-Nazi and anti-Semite – be feted. Yet, in honoring James Dobson, DuMont appears to promote a 'gay exception' to the standards of public civility and decency rightly accorded other groups of people."
The Coalition has launched a Web site,http://www.DumpDobson.com and will unveil a new ad campaign at the press conference, which will debut with a full-page in the Chicago Tribune on Friday, Oct. 17. This will be followed by a robust "signature ad" campaign in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media. The Dump Dobson Coalition is headed by the The Gay Liberation Network and Truth Wins Out and has so far been joined by Equality Illinois, SoulForce and the National Youth Advocacy Coalition.
"There is still time to reverse the reckless and irresponsible decision to honor James Dobson in the Radio Hall of Fame," said Truth Wins Out's Executive Director Wayne Besen. "It is unconscionable that the Museum is giving its imprimatur to a demagogue who has profited from divisive and discriminatory rhetoric. If the museum wants to regain its respect and credibility, it will dump Dobson."
The Museum of Broadcast Communications opened up its Radio Hall of Fame balloting to allow people on the Internet to vote. James Dobson used his Focus on the Family show, which runs on 3,000 radio stations, to essentially stuff the ballot box. As a result, the Radio Hall of Fame is now honoring an anti-gay bigot who has built his radio empire on the backs of GLBT people. Honoring this ideologue is especially troubling during an economic downturn, which allows people like Dobson to scapegoat and promote discrimination. Dobson once said that allowing gay people to marry will "end the earth." Seven scientists have accused him of distorting their work to support his anti-gay teachings. It is outrageous and unacceptable to reward a man who has lied, deceived and caused so much needless pain and suffering. The Dump Dobson coalition was formed to educate people about the danger of honoring Dobson and to urge the MBC to take prudent and responsible action.
