Checking with HBO on gay stereotyping

Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel has an extremely informative piece on the thuggish leader of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov. All went well until the end when Gumble was having a chat with the correspondent. That individual referred to the Chechens having a problem with “the gay lifestyle.” That is very offensive and I was shocked that it was not edited out. Chechnya has a problem with gay people (who they claim don't exist in Chechnya). The problem is not with what they do (as in lifestyle) but in who they are, which is gay.

A sexual orientation is not a “lifestyle.” It is the language of the religious right and it is used to promote the concept of a certain stereotype of gay people; one that nobody really fits. It is derogatory language and HBO producers need to be more aware. Time Warner and HBO have been allies for as long as I can recall. This is just an unfortunate error. However, in my opinion it requires an on-air apology.

I have reached out in a couple of ways. Perhaps they will take this seriously. My partner and I were in Gumble's company several times. He is most certainly not a problem in any way whatsoever.

As I was typing I received one reply from a senior executive. He identified the show's publicist and forwarded my inquiry to him.

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