Gay Reporter Kicked Off RT After Protesting Anti-Gay Law

[Newsjock]

Reporter James Kirchick was kicked off the air of Russian TV Wednesday after he refused to talk about Bradley Manning and instead spoke about the Russian government's anti-gay laws.

"Being here on a Kremlin-funded propaganda network, I'm going to wear my gay pride suspenders and speak out against the horrific, anti-gay legislation that Vladimir Putin has signed into law," Kirchick said.

RT is funded by the Russian government, which recently passed a sweeping law that bans the public discussion of gay rights and relationships in the presence of children.

As Kirchick continued to speak about the laws and the government's funding of the network, one RT host insisted to Kirchick, "You have to come over here and see for yourself."

"You have 24 hours a day to lie about America, I am going to tell the truth with my two minutes," Kirkchick went on to say after RT hosts tried to cut him off.

[hr]
http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/141931/tablet-columnist-hijacks-russia-today-to-protest-anti-gay-laws

... Kirchick was cut out of the rest of the segment, and according to his Twitter feed, was dropped off on the side of the highway on his way to the airport when Russia Today called the taxi company to pull the service.

[BeyondGeography]

1. lol...we'll talk about that later

Last invite he'll be getting. Gutsy.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. If this is true, I hope Thom Hartmann walks!

Kicked and rec'd!!

[MNBrewer]

3. Exactly!

I don't see how anyone of good conscience can remain on RT, given the anti-gay pogrom in progress in Russia. Even if RT does tell the truth about some things in the US, they certainly aren't able (won't?) tell the truth about what's happening in Russia.

[SkyDaddy7]

8. If what is true?

RT is the propaganda arm of the Kremlin...Russia does kill journalist who do not stick to the "Putin is God" playbook & Russia promotes the harsh treatment of homosexuals to the point one could probably murder a homosexual & get away with it.

RT is not worth watching regardless of who works for the Russian agency.

[blackspade]

4. RT is now on my boycott list.

Sorry Thom.

[EC]

5. 24 hours a day to lie about America....

that should tell us something about this station.

[yoloisalie]

6. I think referring to RT

as a kremlin funded propaganda network probably has more to do with him getting fired than his criticism of the Russian anti gay law. But now he has found jesus when RT and Russian acted in a way that hurt his interest. Personally, I would have quit a long time ago if I thought I was working for a Kremlin "propaganda" network.

[DeSwiss]

11. Yeah, you're not supposed to tell the truth on teevee. At least not on yourself.

- That's why they also never mention that ABC, CBS and NBC and all of the cable channels too really, are just extensions of the warm and snugly corptocracy we call home......

[yoloisalie]

7. Btw here is the segment that the RT supporter was talking about

Say what you will about RT but they are not ignoring this law.

More discussion on RT. And yes, most of it is them claiming it is misunderstood and its not really anti gay

[burnodo]

9. Honestly, that just completely soured me on RT

I was willing to give them a chance, but this state sponsored homophobia and censorship is just too much.

[marble falls]

10. "State run propaganda machine", priceless! Thom won't quit.... "Gey off my set....

you'll never work in this town again!"

[DeSwiss]

12. Boycott the Games! - K&R n/t

[Tx4obama]

13. James Kirchick will be on the ReWrite segment of Lawrence O'Donnel's 'Last Word' Thursday night...

Lawrence showed part of the video on tonight's show.