by Shaun Knittel - SGN Associate Editor

On April 26, KRIV-26, the FOX affiliate in Houston, Texas, gave voice to one of the country's most vocal anti-Gay activists during a debate on its news program entitled, 'Is TV Too Gay?' The focus was that night's episode of the hugely popular show Glee, which featured a theme of self-acceptance and celebration of diversity inspired by the Lady Gaga hit song 'Born This Way.'

Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), was all over KRIV-26 faster than you could say 'homophobic prick.'

According to GLAAD officials, the debate began on the wrong foot by even suggesting that television programs with positive portrayals of Gay characters could negatively impact teens. As the show progressed, said Barrios, it only got worse.

The GLAAD president pointed out that:

o Instead of inviting experts on young adult development or youth themselves, the show framed questions as 'Gay' versus 'anti-Gay.'

o Guest Bryan Fischer from the American Family Association the opportunity to make horribly offensive comparisons about Gay and Lesbian families, and called Glee 'propaganda.'

o FOX host Damali Keith compared the Gay characters on Glee to 'product placement' by soda companies in movies, where 'everyone in the theater is thirsty for that particular brand.'

'Bryan Fischer is an extremist with no qualifications to offer the discussion apart from his bigotry,' GLAAD officials wrote in a May 3 statement to the media. 'This is a man whose disdain for diversity is evident in his track record of making statements such as calling Muslim student associations 'parasites' and a 'toxic cancer.'

GLAAD said FOX Houston 'gave Fischer a platform to broadcast his anti-Gay rhetoric in the nation's fourth-largest city and the 10th-largest media market.'

Officials for the watchdog group say host Keith didn't challenge Fischer, but instead contributed her own uninformed anti-Gay commentary.

After receiving complaints about the program, GLAAD officials contacted the station to demand an apology. 'Broadcasting anti-Gay speech is dangerously irresponsible, and the station must be held accountable,' they said. 'In conversations with GLAAD, a representative of the station implied that an apology was in order and should be expected.'

However, no apology has been issued. In fact, in an abrupt reversal, representatives of the station now maintain that they stand behind the show's content.

In all reality, the KRIV-26 representatives' decision to not issue an apology is all the more disturbing given the positive and affirming messages and stance against bullying that were part of the theme of the episode of Glee being discussed.

Currently, equality groups are advocating for the passage of a comprehensive anti-bullying bill in the Texas legislature. The bill has already passed the State Senate 29-2.

So what does Lady Gaga, the pop star and fierce advocate for LGBT equality whom the episode was based on, think about the episode?

'I really loved Glee's 'Born This Way' episode,' tweeted Gaga. 'I admire the show for being brave + fighting for such modern social messaging. Never back down.'

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