BBC does u-turn over ‘execute gay’ poll


by Sunny Hundal    
3:41 pm - December 17th 2009

Tweet       Share on Tumblr

The media storm has forced the BBC to do an abrupt u-turn over its ‘should homosexuals face execution’ poll.

Yesterday David Stead posted on the BBC Editor’s blog, saying:

We agree that it is a stark and challenging question, but think that it accurately focuses on and illustrates the real issue at stake.

If Uganda’s democratically elected MPs vote to proceed with the Anti-Homosexuality Bill this week they will bring onto the statute book legislation that could condemn people to death for some homosexual activities.

We published it alongside clear explanatory text which gave the context of the bill itself (see above). And as we said at the top of our debate page, we accept it is a stark and disturbing question. But this is the reality behind the bill.

But today Peter Horrocks, director of BBC World Service, posted another blog on the BBC Editor’s blog, accepting they had gotten it wrong:

The original headline on our website was, in hindsight, too stark. We apologise for any offence it caused. But it’s important that this does not detract from what is a crucial debate for Africans and the international community.

Today the NUJ also issued a statement attacking the BBC for posing the question in such an inflammatory way.

The story was originally broken on Twitter by @thedancingflea

   Tweet   Share on Tumblr   submit to reddit  


About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
· Other posts by


Story Filed Under: News


Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


Reader comments


1. cjcjc

Erm, they do appeat to have apologised – for the headline !

Perhaps they should have learned from this 2002 experience:

“Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. Human beings believe they are superior to animals like dogs, cats etc. Why do we have to go below them through our behaviors like homosexuality? A homosexual, I believe, is a person who belongs to another planet not ours and therefore should be treated that way may be to be taken to a different planet. They do not belong on this planet Earth. They are strange and foreign beings. Are they from Mars, Jupiter? You tell us!
Henry Williams, Sierra Leone”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/africa/2002/africalive/2072057.stm

2. Constantly Furious

You won!! Hurrah!!!

Liberal Conspiracy and Soho Politico got a major website to change some of the words they used!!

Perhaps from now on, the BBC will think twice before using phrases you don’t approve of!!!

A triumph for … errr … you.

3. Dick the Prick

Is this a meta debate about a meta debate about a meta debate?

4. cim

That’s not a u-turn, that’s a ten-degree turn at most. They apologise for “any offence it caused”, but not for:
– the actual offence caused, and more importantly the actual harm caused to gay people
– suggesting that there was a legitimate debate to be had over executing gay people
– anything other than the headline
– being wrong

You’re giving them far too much credit for it.

5. Kisa

It’s funny because where I am from, (Russia) this would not be such an outrageous question. Only a few years ago a quarter of Russians believed homosexuals should be <>

6. Kisa

“liquidated”


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    :: BBC do u-turn over 'execute gay' poll http://bit.ly/7MfUp2

  2. sunny hundal

    BBC editors do u-turn over ‘execute homosexuals’ poll. Accept mistake http://bit.ly/5utfUh

  3. Neil Fawcett

    RT @libcon :: BBC do u-turn over 'execute gay' poll http://bit.ly/7MfUp2 >>>
    But "too stark" is not proper ackowledgment of total #bbcfail

  4. P.M.R

    RT @pickledpolitics: BBC editors do u-turn over ‘execute homosexuals’ poll. Accept mistake http://bit.ly/5utfUh #AUNTY #FAIL

  5. LGBT Labour

    RT @pickledpolitics: BBC editors do u-turn over ‘execute homosexuals’ poll. Accept mistake http://bit.ly/5utfUh

  6. Chloe Setter

    RT @LGBTLabour: RT @pickledpolitics: BBC editors do u-turn over ‘execute homosexuals’ poll. Accept mistake http://bit.ly/5utfUh

  7. Gay Porn Movies

    Liberal Conspiracy » BBC do u-turn over 'execute gay' poll: RT @libcon: BBC do u-turn over 'execute gay' poll http… http://bit.ly/8Kk0jX

  8. GLBT World News

    Liberal Conspiracy » BBC do u-turn over 'execute gay' poll http://bit.ly/6dyGe2

  9. Rob Carr

    RT @libcon: BBC do u-turn over 'execute gay' poll http://bit.ly/7MfUp2





Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.