How to complain about the BBC interviewing pro-gay execution fundamentalist on Sir Elton’s baby
Last night, as first highlighted by PinkNews.co.uk, the BBC’s flagship BBC News at Six programme on BBC One featured an interview with Stephen Green, who has previously called for gays to be executed on the news that Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish were celebrating the birth of their first son. We explain how to complain about this story.
With the introduction “not everyone is pleased to see such a high profile same sex couple start to raise a surrogate child”, Lizo Mzimba, the BBC’s entertainment correspondent proceeded to interview Stephen Green, of right-wing group Christian Voice, without any warning that he is someone who has in the past supported the death penalty for gay men.
In an interview that was visibly edited together, Mr Green told the BBC: “This isn’t just a designer baby for Sir Elton John, this is a designer accessory… [cut] Now it seems like money can buy him anything, and so he has entered into this peculiar arrangement…[cut] The baby is a product of it. A baby needs a mother and it seems an act of pure selfishness to deprive a baby of a mother.”
Mr Green has previously supported a proposed death penalty for gay men in Uganda, called openly gay rugby star Gareth Thomas a “wicked” role model for children and compared openly gay singer Ian Watkins (H from the band Steps) to a mass murderer. He also unsuccessfully attempted to bring a private prosecution for blasphemy against the director general of the BBC after the character of Jesus said he was “a little bit gay” in the satire, ‘Jerry Springer: The Opera’.
As yet, the BBC have not responded to PinkNews.co.uk questions as to why it was seen fit to interview him on such a sensitive subject. Unfortunately, it is far from the first time that the BBC has been accused of homophobia. Last year, the corporation was forced to apologise after the BBC News website hosted a debate entitled “should homosexuals face execution?”
If you are outraged at the decision to not only interview Mr Green but also to omit that he holds exteemist views from his introduction, you may wish to make your voice heard.
The BBC online complaints form is located here , or you can telephone 03700 100 222.
The BBC Trust regulate the BBC, if you are unhappy with the response you get from the BBC itself, you can contact the BBC Trust here.
The BBC like all broadcasters in the UK is also regulated by Ofcom. You can complain to them directly by clicking here.
The director general of the BBC is often requested to give evidence to the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee. You can contact the committee by clicking here.
