On Friday, LGBT Weekly posted a story that was from a political satire Web site nationalreport.net. The Web site is known in political circles for its wildly strange but satirical takes on news of the day. After days of covering the hateful Indiana Religious Restoration Act, I thought it might be fun to share the “fake” story with our readers. It was entitled “Indiana anti-gay law snags Bachmann’s husband.”
The story was also posted on our Facebook page with the comment “You can’t make this stuff up…” While I thought the satirical nature of the article was apparent, a few people thought it was a serious piece.
Immediately upon being told that some readers were taking the article seriously, I added a disclaimer at the top of the story. While I thought the title also conveyed the satirical nature of the story when it used the word snags, a term used most often to describe something that happens to a stocking, in the story Bachmann was buying dresses for his wife when he is refused service for being perceived as gay, it clearly was not as effective as I would have liked.
What I find most interesting is that the Bachmann satirical story was one of the most shared stories in the history of LGBT Weekly. While 99 percent of those reading the story knew it was satire, it is abundantly clear that the desire to share a joke with friends is very powerful at messaging. Many people who shared the story laughed and then had serious conversations about the Indiana law and its ramifications. One discussion involved the fact that these types of laws are on the books in other states. Absolutely true. Sometimes an action creates a tipping point and for that we can thank Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.
People now understand that the religious right is trying to undermine with religious exemption laws what they anticipate to be a Supreme Court ruling in favor of national same-sex marriage. Religious exemption laws allow anyone to refuse service, accommodation and entry to any group based upon a religious belief. A Catholic can refuse service to someone who is divorced or supports abortion. Or someone who is Jewish, Muslim or atheist. Or as the satirical story highlighted, someone perceived to be gay.
I now have a true appreciation of what Jon Stewart has accomplished on The Daily Show for the last 16 years. Stewart through his fake news stories has effectively critiqued and informed the public about serious political issues. When polled, watchers of The Daily Show were more informed about presidential campaign issues that those consuming national broadcast news. Satire helps people fully understand an underlying issue and its potential ramifications.
After my small foray into Stewart’s world with the Bachmann story, I understand why he has loved his job for so many years. Many people are more easily informed through humor than a straight news story, as I learned this weekend.
It has taken the mainstream media weeks to pick-up on the story about the “kill the gays” ballot initiative. While I don’t see how that story could be turned into something humorous, I wish it could be. In today’s world, more people then would be engaged with the hateful ballot initiative issue because political satire is more effective in social media than straight news.
Lesson learned, but LGBT Weekly will remain a news site with the occasional, clearly identified satirical article meant to entertain. After all, you can’t argue with effectiveness.
STAMPP CORBIN
PUBLISHER
San Diego LGBT Weekly
LGBTweekly.com
