Washington Times Devotes Section to Antigay Propaganda for NOM March

The Washington Times, as the official media sponsor for today's antigay March for Marriage in D.C., has published a supplement to today's paper consisting of opinion pieces arguing against same-sex marriage and ads opposing marriage equality and promoting conservative causes, such as teaching the Bible in public schools.

Contributors include National Organization for Marriage chairman John C. Eastman and political director Frank Schubert, Times columnist Robert Knight, and Times staff writer Cheryl Wetzstein. NOM is lead sponsor of the march.

Most of the arguments made rely on traditional interperetations of biblical prohibitions on same-sex relations and contend that while those holding such views are losing the cultural battle, their fight to exclude gays and lesbians from marriage isn't over. One particularly extreme argument contends that same-sex marriage will bring about the downfall of civilization.

NOM's website for the march identifies the Times as the official media sponsor for the event through a "special partnertship" with the antigay organization. The Times website has also hosted a petition against marriage equality.

While the Times has long had a right-wing editorial policy, this "special partnership" is "a clear violation of basic journalistic ethics," says a blog post from watchdog group Media Matters. "It's one thing for The Washington Times to cover the March for Marriage. It's another thing entirely to shill for the event."

Despite all the right-wing propaganda and column inches devoted to its promotion, the March For Marriage only drew about 2,000 people, Zack Ford of ThinkProgress estimated in a tweet.ThinkProgress and GLAAD both have critiques of the Times supplement, and you can view the entire section below.

'Washington Times' special 'March For Marriage' supplement by G-A-Y