The common supervisor of a tv information station in western Michigan has apologized after workers obtained a memo telling reporters to cowl fewer LGBTQ+ occasions throughout Pride Month as a result of protection may very well be “polarizing.”

The memo to workers at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids requested them to “do some work to discern the newsworthy-ness” of Pride occasions, in keeping with the Detroit Free Press, which obtained a replica of it.

“We know that West Michigan is a conservative area in many ways,” the memo learn, in keeping with the story. “We need to recognize that some stories related to LGBTQ issues are going to be controversial and polarizing in our community.”

WOOD-TV is owned by Texas-based Nexstar Media which mentioned Friday in a press release that the memo was not according to the corporate’s values, the way in which it covers the information or the respect it has for viewers.

“WOOD-TV is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and to covering and reporting the news of the day in an expansive and inclusive fashion, consistent with these values,” Julie Brinks, WOOD-TV common supervisor mentioned in a press release Friday.

Brinks mentioned Nexstar will “take appropriate action as necessary to address this situation, and we apologize for offending members of the LGBTQ community and WOOD-TV’s viewers.”

Opposition to Pride occasions and pro-LGBTQ+ literature has galvanized some Republicans and conservatives throughout the U.S. in nationwide and native politics. When a library in western Michigan refused to take away LGBTQ content material from the cabinets, residents waged a profitable marketing campaign to dam a few of its funding, in an episode that’s performed out in different states.

The backlash can also be affecting the underside line for information shops.

“If we are covering Pride events, we need to consider how to make the story balanced and get both sides of the issue,” the WOOD-TV memo mentioned, the Free Press reported. “We have also started to hear pushback from viewers who are not happy to see those Pride related stories.”

The memo added that whereas workers might not agree with a sure place, “people are entitled to their opinions and they are our viewers,” the Free Press reported.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, is in Kent County which noticed almost 52% of its voters solid ballots within the 2020 common election for President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in comparison with about 46% for then-Republican President Donald Trump.

But in adjoining Ottawa County, almost 60% of votes solid had been for Trump, whereas Biden obtained about 38%. Ottawa County is in WOOD-TV’s protection space.

In January, a conservative Christian group often known as Ottawa Impact claimed a majority on Ottawa County’s board of commissioners and made a number of controversial choices, together with instantly closing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Department. The board additionally determined towards sending funds to assist that county’s largest Pride pageant, in Holland.

But an inaugural Pride pageant in Ottawa County’s Grand Haven drew hundreds of individuals final weekend.

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