With the popular series "Black in America," CNN shed light on the black American experience. Considering the vast amount of misinformation regarding sexual orientation, social attitudes, homophobia and rising support for gay equality, encourage CNN to tell the story of gay life in America. American LGBT is a community of unsung heroes, unimaginable hardship, expressive culture and a unique American experience that major news networks have, in many respects, failed to capture.
Contact CNN's team and request a similar documentary for the LGBT community.
In addition to signing this petition, click on this link to CNN's Sound Off board and request "LGBT in America." You may also include any specific issues that you'd like them to address.
Your "Black in America" and "Latin in America" series are important tools for building a social bridge highlighting the accomplishments and adversities of minorities in this country and encouraging imperative dialogue.
I urge you to consider a similar style documentary for the American LGBT community. Now is the perfect time for a major news network to put this experience, one that is both challenging and inspirational, on a national platform.
Topics to examine include religious persecution, bullying in schools, discrimination from families, neighborhoods, work-places and even the federal government. DADT has cost 12,000 military employees their careers. DOMA, which denies same-sex couples the 1,500 federal benefits of marriage, creates legal barriers for gay relationships including visiting partners in the emergency room, tax breaks and adoption. 30% of teen suicides are directly related to sexual orientation/identity and HIV/AIDS continues to ravage the gay community in disproportionate numbers. Racism, sexism and homophobia create barriers for the LGBT community.
In the midst of this affliction a unique, defiant cultural identity has been established as well as a grassroots political campaign to achieve equality. In the past decade six states have legalized gay marriage and many states and cities have enacted policies that bring gay Americans closer to full citizenship. Meanwhile, science continues to offer new information on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Overall, American LGBT is a community of leaders, activists, artists, teachers, parents, soldiers, daughters and families, ordinary citizens with amazing, courageous stories that need to be shared. I believe your station has the faculties to present this topic in an informative, progressive manner.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
