The Batesville Daily Guard will take official action next week on whether or not gay couples will be allowed to print obituaries in their newspaper. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) will run a full-page ad in the newspaper, calling upon the paper to throw out its discriminatory policy against LGBT couples.
The paper’s current policy allows recognition for married couples only, and refuses to print any obituary alluding to a gay relationship. In fact, in one noted case, the HRC in partnership with the Center for Artistic Revolution (CAR) learned that a man had been deleted from his partner’s obituary and was required to pay $85 to have the correction reprinted.
Oscar Jones, Legal Counsel to the Batesville Daily Guard, says he “hopes and believes the policy will be changed,” after the board meets next week to discuss the paper’s anti-gay policy.
“The Batesville Daily Guard needs to reverse course and implement a policy that ensures all committed couples can be remembered together in obituaries,” said HRC Vice President of Communications Fred Sainz. “LGBT couples in Arkansas don’t have the option of marrying – but that doesn’t mean they should be penalized from having their relationships recognized, particularly during times of grief.”
After HRC announced an action against the Guard, nearly 1,500 people sent petitions to the paper in support of the removal of its policy.
