So...
I've been following the recent controversy regarding Britt from Ghost Hunters and his recent firing from the show. The basic story is this: During a radio interview, he used the phrase "anti-gun pussy faggots." Scotty Roberts, the editor-in-chief of TAPS ParaMagazine has jumped to his defense, claiming that Britt's use of the word was "not directed at gays" and that "a slip of the tongue does not equate hate speech." He also maintains that Britt has apologized for "letting it slip out."
The situation is complicated by the fact that Britt's fellow paranormal investigator Ryan Buell from Paranormal State recently came out publicly as bisexual and has decided to openly comment on Britt's firing on his blog. The point he makes is that Britt's use of the word "faggot" may well have been taken out of context, but that does not excuse the use of the word at all. He also points out that since he has come out, he has been the target of anti-gay sentiment from members of the paranormal community. He doesn't call anyone out for the anti-gay sentiment directed at him, but he does mention that Robb Demarest from Ghost Hunters International has publicly stood by him since his coming out.
Others are arguing that Ryan Buell had no right to comment on the issue and has taken Britt's words out of context. Some have also implied that since Ryan is on another show, this is a rivalry or publicity issue.
Use of defamatory speech is a hot-button issue for me, as most of you well know. Paranormal TV is about the last place I would have expected a blow up over offensive slurs or LGBT issues, but apparently nowhere is immune. In the past couple of days, there has been a blow-up over the issue on Twitter. Scotty Roberts and Ryan Buell have been discussing this matter back and forth publicly--and some of the discussion has been pretty heated.
So let's have a poll:
Poll GH poll
The situation is complicated by the fact that Britt's fellow paranormal investigator Ryan Buell from Paranormal State recently came out publicly as bisexual and has decided to openly comment on Britt's firing on his blog. The point he makes is that Britt's use of the word "faggot" may well have been taken out of context, but that does not excuse the use of the word at all. He also points out that since he has come out, he has been the target of anti-gay sentiment from members of the paranormal community. He doesn't call anyone out for the anti-gay sentiment directed at him, but he does mention that Robb Demarest from Ghost Hunters International has publicly stood by him since his coming out.
Others are arguing that Ryan Buell had no right to comment on the issue and has taken Britt's words out of context. Some have also implied that since Ryan is on another show, this is a rivalry or publicity issue.
Use of defamatory speech is a hot-button issue for me, as most of you well know. Paranormal TV is about the last place I would have expected a blow up over offensive slurs or LGBT issues, but apparently nowhere is immune. In the past couple of days, there has been a blow-up over the issue on Twitter. Scotty Roberts and Ryan Buell have been discussing this matter back and forth publicly--and some of the discussion has been pretty heated.
So let's have a poll:
Poll GH poll