News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media

Brian Williams

To Make a Long Story Short ... Brothers & Sisters scoop, Torchwood Season 2 gets a US airdate, Gossip Girl's gay dad, and more!

  • Breaking! Magazine cover uses term "Million Dollar" to describe Survivor contestant Todd Herzog. THEY MUST KNOW SOMETHING!!!! Yeah ... like how to get free press.
  • Hot off the press, I've got some Brothers & Sisters scoop! Those interested in Kevin's relationship with Jason will definitely want to watch the next couple of weeks. But you have to work for it! This Sunday Kevin is ***** ** **** ******** McCallister ******* ****** ***** to *** *** and ***** **** Scotty.
  • Breaking! Magazine cover promises proof as to whether Tom Cruise is gay! I'm sensing a trend here...
  • A few more tidbits about Torchwood Season 2 -- Ugly Betty's Alan Dale will guest star, and James Marsters plays a remorseless murderer.
  • Hey, look: it's Blair's gay dad and his gay boyfriend from the upcoming Gossip Girl! On ice skates. Figures...
  • Brian Williams responded to suggestions that he meant anything anti-gay about his "marriage under attack" comments the other night: "The simple fact is that nothing could have been further from my mind." Nothing? Really? How about ... I don't know, The Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man?
  • Torchwood Season 2 will be coming to the States via BBC America starting January 26th.

  • Finally, for all of you in the U.S. have a very Happy Thanksgiving. We'll be back next Monday!

Who's attacking marriage, Brian Williams?

On last night's NBC Nightly News, anchor Brian Williams introduced a story about Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip's wedding anniversary in a rather strange way. Williams declared:

"In an era when marriage is under attack, the united Kingdom these days is celebrating a 60th wedding anniversary, the longest marriage of any monarchy"

We're in an era when "marriage is under attack," Brian? As Good As You noted, that phrase is pretty commonly used by anti-gay forces to frame arguments against same-sex marriage in their favor. It's not something that should be used on a news program claiming neutrality, especially in a segment that has nothing to do with politics or civil rights.

Two years ago, media watchdog group Media Matters noted that Williams was named "the go-to network anchor" by Frank Luntz, the Republican pollster whose success is largely built on an effective use of creating terminology to frame political discourse (Daily Show fans might recognize him for his frequent appearances, including one where Samantha Bee declared him her "amoral Yoda"), so hearing Williams use a phrase like that should ring some alarms.

Now, I have heard gay friendly speakers make a mention of marriage being under attack. They're typically being facetious and trying to turn the phrase around to say that heterosexuals who take the right to marry for granted - who feel free to get married impulsively to people they barely know and end those marriages just as quickly. So, there's a potential exit for Williams - he can just say that he was referring to Britney Spears 12-hour marriage to Jason Alexander.


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