Editor issues apology for "Brokeback" joke in local newspaper

Editor issues apology for "Brokeback" joke in local newspaper

March 27, 2006

By AMELIA GRAHAM
6 News Reporter

KNOX COUNTY (WATE) -- An apology was issued Monday after a controversial caption appeared in the Halls Shopper-News.

The picture showed Knox County Commission Candidate Chuck James embracing local politico Tyler Harber. The caption read "Brokeback Buddies."

After an uproar from James' camp, along with members of the gay and lesbian community, the editor now says she's sorry.

In Vol. 45, No. 13 of the Halls Shopper-News, just released Monday, there is a retraction of sorts.

The editor, Sandra Clark, writes, "We deeply regret offending Chuck James, although it's hard to believe he has never been called anything worse than gay."

Clark did not want to do an on-camera interview with 6 News and Chuck James couldn't be reached for comment Monday.

But in an interview with him Friday, James said he had nothing against homosexuals. "I don't want to judge anybody's lifestyle and I don't think anybody should judge mine," James said.

Clark says the caption, "Brokeback Buddies," wasn't judging his lifestyle. She says it was a joke since the embrace between James and Harber so closely resembled the one made famous in the movie.

The editor says she will become politically correct, and next time, she'll just call them "bosom buddies."

While James may take issue with that nickname as well, there is one group satisfied by the apology.

"I think we can always turn negatives into positives. And that's what I try to do, even by demanding things like apologies and retractions," says Gary Elgin of the Rainbow Community Awareness Project.

As a gay activist, he says he's more than pleased with Clark's article, "This is the way things can work if people work together."

As a result of this issue, Elgin is holding a workshop on May 18 called "Diversity and the Media."

Sandra Clark says she plans on attending, and encourages Chuck James to do the same.