Equality Matters

Equality Matters was a media and communications initiative in support of LGBT rights in the United States. Equality Matters was a partner organization with Media Matters for America,[1] a progressive[2] media watchdog group. Richard Socarides, a longtime LGBT rights activist and former senior advisor to President Bill Clinton on gay civil rights issues, served as the founding president of Equality Matters, and Kerry Eleveld, journalist for The Advocate, served as editor beginning in 2011.[3] Both announced their departure from the organization in November 2011.[4]

Equality Matters
FormationDecember 23, 2010 (2010-12-23)
DissolvedDecember 2015 (2015-12)
Key people
Richard Socarides, Kerry Eleveld
Websitewww.equalitymatters.org

History

The organization, an offshoot of Media Matters for America, was founded as a "communications war room for gay equality," and was launched on December 23, 2010.[3] While Media Matters focuses broadly to "notify activists, journalists, pundits, and the general public about instances of misinformation," Equality Matters looked solely at LGBT issues in the media.[5][6]

Since the departure of Richard Socarides and Kerry Eleveld in November 2011, Equality Matters remained active as a mirror site for Media Matters' LGBT content, with a separate Equality Matters blog and podcast (since March 29, 2011) authored by Bradley Herring and Carlos Maza.[7]

Organization

Equality Matters was an internet-based organization. Their official website featured coverage of LGBT issues in the media. The website featured a blog, a fact checking section, videos, and "Top Picks of the Week", which the organization stated was "Our picks for the most interesting, outrageous, or thought provoking stories of the week."[8]

Association with Media Matters for America

According to David Brock, founder of Media Matters for America,[9]

Equality Matters will build on the work done by [Media Matters and Media Matters Action Network]. Through strategic communication, research, training and media monitoring, Equality Matters will strengthen efforts for full LGBT rights and correct anti-gay misinformation. Its goal is to enhance advocacy and activism across all platforms and to leverage expertise in support of others who are working to make full equality a national imperative.

Goals

According to Media Matters founder David Brock, Equality Matters should "expose right-wing bigotry and homophobia wherever we find it" and "stiffen the spines of progressives."[3] David Mixner, gay author and activist, said of the group that "while a range of groups are working to advance gay rights, the movement has lacked a national rapid-response war room of the sort that can push back against homophobic messages in the media and the political arena and keep the pressure on elected officials."[3]

Public reception

In the months following its December 2010 launch, Equality Matters faced some criticism about the way the organization was being run. Peter Rosenstein of the Washington Blade stated that he believed "Over the past couple of months it appears that Equality Matters may have been launched too soon and before its organizers had a real strategy and mission for what they would do."[10]

See also

References
  1. "Equality Matters". Equality Matters. Archived from the original on 2010-12-28. Retrieved 2010-12-24.
  2. Hogue, Ilyse (May 23, 2012). "Getting rid of census survey is wasteful". CNN.
  3. Gay, Sheryl (2010-12-19). "Gay Marriage Group Plans New Push". The New York Times. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  4. Phil Reese (November 22, 2011). "Socarides, Eleveld leaving Equality Matters". Washington Blade.
  5. "About Us | Media Matters for America". Mediamatters.org. Archived from the original on 2011-11-08. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  6. "About Us - Equality Matters". Media Matters Action Network. Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  7. Geidner, Chris (November 22, 2011). "Socarides, Eleveld Leaving Equality Matters; Signorile Joins HuffPo". MetroWeekly. Jansi, LLC. Archived from the original on January 23, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012.
  8. "Picks Of The Week, October 10-14, 2011". Equality Matters. Archived from the original on 2011-10-28. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  9. "Brock announces launch of Equality Matters in support of gay equality". Equality Matters. Archived from the original on 2011-12-26. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
  10. Rosenstein, Peter (2011-03-04). "Equality Matters looking for a purpose | Washington Blade - America's Leading Gay News Source". Washington Blade. Retrieved 2011-11-07.
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