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CNN’s Phillips Does Mea Culpa for Ex-Gay Story While Scolding E-Mailers

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by Michael Triplett | 10:57 am, April 9th, 2010

» 8 comments

CNN’s Kyra Phillips has done an on-air apology for having an ex-gay activist on her show without a countering expert, but said she was hurt by the “hateful messages” she received from viewers who were upset about the show.

Phillips has been under fire since Tuesday when she had a segment on a California law that requires research into curing homosexuality. Her main guest was Richard Cohen, a therapist who says gays can be cured. The segment created a huge uproar, especially in the LGBT blogosphere, because Cohen went largely unchallenged and no mention was made that Cohen has been expelled by the American Counseling Association for unethical behavior.

Since the segment, CNN and Phillips became the subject of a Gays & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation “call to action” and Phillips says she’s received an avalanche of “vicious emails” over the interview.

“I wish all of you knew my heart,” Phillips said at the end of her interview with the American Psychological Association’s Clinton Anderson, adding that she has a long track record of responsible reporting on gay and lesbian issues. She said she had ” unswerving support for all communities in the battle for human rights, including gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals.

Responding to the controversy, she acknowledged that Cohen was not “the most appropriate guest” but was taken aback by the ugly response from those who didn’t like the segment.

“If we cannot treat each other in a civil manner, even when we disagree, we will never move forward and have a world where all people are treated with the respect they deserve,” Phillips concluded.

CNN, GLAAD, Kyra Phillips

TylerDurdin

“hateful messages” from liberals? I’m shocked! I’m shocked!
Cecelia

I know you’re not one…but welcome to the world of a conservative female on a blog board, Kyra. After you read some liberal missives, I’m sure you wanted to hose yourself down in a mirrored shower stall for reassurance.
kenm

So, wait a second… Phillips gets blasted for doing a one-on-one interview without having another guest on to air a dissenting opinion. And she follows that up by having a one-on-one interview with someone from the opposite side, again without having another guest on to air a dissenting opinion??

I guess two wrongs do make a right as long as the second wrong is of the politically correct variety.
TylerDurdin

Strange, there were no reports of hate messages when a few weeks ago CNN had 4 gay people discuss why Prop 8 was wrong.
Michael Triplett

In the Cohen interview, she had a California legislator who was trying to get the California law struck down. But the legislator wasn’t really there to challenge the idea of gay conversion therapy just mandating it. The interview came off as unbalanced.
libra blue

Since when does CNN give a damn what their viewers think?
katekilla

Give me a break. It’s not about “differing opinions” when she hosts someone who alleges that gay people choose their orientation and can (should!) change it. That’s not a “differing opinion,” that’s someone denying the humanity of others. Any journalist who would give a platform to a guy like that deserves exactly as much criticism as she gets. For her to turn around and play victim is disingenuous and offensive.
DumbPresident

Nothing worst than a gay scorned! So vicious! The anti prop 8 “activists” are Nazi like!