Dallas Voice Stands By Firing Of Editor

Yesterday the former editor of the Dallas Voice, John Wright, issued a blistering email, claiming that he had been fired (among other reasons) for writing about the planned enforcement of public decency laws at Dallas Pride. The Dallas Morning News picked up the story:

Publisher Leo Cusimano, who, along with Terry Thompson, bought the Voice from co-founder Robert Moore earlier this year, disputes Wright’s post. “John has his opinion, and we have ours, and they are not the same,” he tells The Dallas Morning News. “We stand by the actions we took.” Cusimano insists he and Thompson “have not heard a word from the Dallas Tavern Guild on our coverage of the parade in terms of controversy.” He says that Wright’s dismissal stems from “a combination of things” he will not discuss. It’s not necessarily one element that led to that decision,” he says. In his item this morning, Wright also says he didn’t believe the cover of the newspaper’s Pride issue “included enough minorities,” and that when he raised his concerns ownership told him, “That’s not our market.” Cusimano says he was tempted to address Wright’s post, but didn’t because of “possible litigation.”

Dallas Voice Editor Fired

"In my opinion, the new owners of the [Dallas] Voice are interested in nothing but profit. They don't seem to care about the LGBT community or their employees, and they certainly don't care about doing good journalism. They want an editor who will write puff pieces about their advertisers instead of reporting the facts, and I refused to be that editor. For example, last week we reported on the new dress code at Dallas Pride. Organizers of the parade are among the Voice's biggest advertisers, and they were not at all happy when this became a national story. They blamed me for it. I also raised objections about the cover of our Pride issue because I didn't think it included enough minorities, and specifically African-Americans. In response, I was shouted down and told, 'That's not our market.' These are just a few examples of what I have endured for the last several months." - Former Dallas Voice editor John Wright, who says he was fired yesterday for insubordination. (Via email)

From The Dallas Voice

(Source via Zack Ford)

KapoQuotable - Jimmy LaSalvia

"The gay left is the most hateful, intolerant, disgusting group of people I’ve ever come across in my lifetime, and everything we do is criticized by them. They hate gay conservatives more than anything in the world, and I don’t know why. - GOProud president Jimmy LaSalvia, talking to the Dallas Voice.

LaSalvia goes on to express outrage that anybody would suspect that either he or GOProud member Taylor Garrett had staged the hate crimes both allegedly suffered. Garrett claimed to have had a rock thrown though his window during the launch week of his Logo reality series A-List: Dallas. LaSalvia claimed to have scared off a group of black teenaged would-be gay-bashers by pretending to have a gun. He turned that alleged incident into a week-long round of media appearances to promote GOProud's positions on gun rights.

Texas Gay Man Beaten, Burned, Stabbed

The Dallas Voice reports that a Texas gay man has been beaten, burned, and stabbed in what the victim is characterizing as a hate crime.

Burke Burnett said he was at a private party at about 1 a.m. when four men suddenly attacked him, stabbing him at least twice with a broken beer bottle before throwing him onto a fire. His attackers yelled things like “pussy-ass faggot,” “gay bitch” and “cock-sucking punk,” Burnett said. Burnett said it took 30 stitches to close stab wounds to his back and forearm, as well as a cut above his left eye. He also sustained second-degree burns and severe bruises. “They knew I was gay,” Burnett said Monday. “I’m convinced they were trying to kill me.” Jeff Sugg, interim chief of the Reno Police Department, released a statement Monday afternoon saying: “The Reno Police Department is currently investigating an aggravated assault that took place last weekend. The investigation is ongoing and additional information will be provided when available.”

The victim says he knows at least one of the attackers. No arrests have been made as of this writing. Hit the above link for more details and for updates.

Advocate To Publish Obama Interview

Just days after the Philadelphia Gay News published a large blank section on their front page to protest Barack Obama's unwillingness to speak to the gay press, the Dallas Voice has confirmed that The Advocate has conducted an interview to be posted on their site tomorrow. It is Obama's first interview with the gay press since he discussed the Donnie McClurkin debacle with The Advocate over six months ago. I'll excerpt the interview here once it goes up.