WorldNetDaily’s Disgraceful Reporting of the “Southern Decadence” Non-Story
Let me say right off that New Orleans’ Southern Decadence event is, to say the least, not my cup of tea, and is probably the last place I would want to be on Labor Day Weekend. But that does not mean I’ll stand by without comment and watch the people who run the event unfairly smeared by an online publication with a chip on its shoulder.
The event, which is essentially New Orleans’ Gay Pride Parade and Fair, has been held for years and is city sanctioned. It was to take place from August 31 through September 5.
Obviously, Southern Decadence did not take place on the planned dates, and will not be held this year; the event’s home page says so. I understand that there was some sentiment in favor of holding the event this coming weekend (which would, in my opinion, have been unbelievably insensitive to the city’s suffering; in the end, I believe cooler heads would have vetoed the idea), but the city’s mandatory evacuation order put a stop to any thought of that anyway. It may be that the event’s cancellation occurred before the evacuation order, but to me it’s really irrelevant.
Defying all the facts on the ground, WorldNetDaily (WND) amazingly transforms the equivalent of a frat-house hangover walk into a gay mini-fair, and then wants us to think that gays were expecting a full-fledged rescheduled event this weekend:
Homosexuals celebrate in ravaged New Orleans
2 dozen ‘gays’ march up Bourbon Street, reslate Southern Decadence
Posted: September 6, 2005–1:00 a.m. EasternDespite the devastation and ongoing suffering by thousands from Hurricane Katrina, homosexuals paraded on Bourbon Street in New Orleans over the weekend, and have rescheduled their “Southern Decadence” event for tomorrow.
Uh, no (as noted later in the article in an excerpt from another site):
The marchers said they were celebrating Southern Decadence. The group – about two dozen people – all said they lived in the largely gay French Quarter. Defiant, they said they were not about to flee the community despite orders from the city to do so.
Though it’s described as “their” event, there is no indication that any of these two dozen losers, who seem unable to even make a coherent sign, had anything to do with planning or managing the actual Southern Decadence event. I doubt they did, but if anyone has proof to the contrary, I’d like to see it.
WND has nothing on its site indicating that the event has been cancelled, and gives no indication that they even attempted to contact event managers.
This is pitiful, agenda-driven, and spiteful reporting by people who should know better, no matter how you slice it, and no matter where you stand on gay-rights issues. WND owes its readers an apology and an accurate update, which I don’t expect.
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UPDATE: Les Kinsolving, WND’s White House correspondent, tries to pile on (paras 1, 5, and 6), but his line of questioning was wisely ignored by White House spokesman Scott McLellan. The article’s post time is today September 7 at 5:36 PM ET, many hours after the mandatory evacuation order. Les, what part of “cancelled” don’t you understand?
UPDATE 2: As of 10 AM, I see no indication that WND acknowledges the event’s cancellation, though it has been known for at least 24 hours (more likely 48).
UPDATE 3: In a hole, WND keeps digging, and calls another gathering of a couple of dozen nutbars, this time in Lafayette, LA, a “Southern Decadence” event. Again, no indication of formal event affiliation, and no attempt to contact event management for their side. Zheesh.
