Ocean Dreamer

I used to be a regularly donating member of KUOW, our local NPR affiliate.  There are things I love about KUOW, especially its good, accurate information about current events.  But more than once they have made homophobic or transphobic comments – especially during the pledge drive.  They are having their spring pledge drive right now, and they invited people who aren’t pledging to tell them why.  I’ve already contacted them about many of my concerns.  So, rather than contact them again, I’m writing about it here.

A few drives ago, This American Life replayed that episode about the trans kids.  When it was over, Ira Glass said he wasn’t sure the parents were doing the right thing by letting their kids live according to their gender identities!  I couldn’t believe it.  I’d always thought Ira Glass was pretty progressive – but people can always surprise you, unfortunately.

Then, during their drive last Fall, one of their daytime hosts and a guest made comments about how odd they thought it would be for a woman to wear a suit in her wedding.  Ugh.

There have also been other homo & transphobic incidents during their regular programming.  I’ve sometimes written them about them – usually its their daytime talkshows that are the problem – and usually I get really defensive responses back.

I also used to be a dog trainer and those talkshows occasionally have a trainer on whose methods are terrible – really, really abusive to the dogs and damaging to the owner-dog relationship.  When I (and others) contacted them about that, their response was essentially that they didn’t care because he was popular with the audience!  Come on, KUOW, I expect more of you.

When it comes to any issue of oppression, I feel the more important thing is how a person responds when they’re called on their shit.  I mean, we all make mistakes; it would be hypocritical for me to turn my back on someone simply because they said or did something offensive.  What’s most important is that the person owns what they did and works to change it.  So far, KUOW has been really defensive when confronted with any of these issues.

So after all these incidents, I’ve stopped donating.  I do still love many aspects of NPR and if they change these problems, I will likely start donating again.  But until then, I’ll continue to donate and volunteer my time towards groups that are working to fight oppression.

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