[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_3nf2Tz6Q0]
In theory, the idea of Morgan Spurlock (of Supersize Me fame) using 30 days to teach a lesson in tolerance sounds useful.  A woman who opposes the idea of LGBT rights lives with a gay family for 30 days, and at the end we see if her mentality has changed.

However, the episode’s premiere last night exhibited a far more biased, and at best, irresponsible representation of facts, and the differences (or rather, lack of differences) between gay parents and straight parents.

The episode features a defamatory interview with Peter Sprigg of the notoriously homophobic Family Research Council.  Says Sprigg: “Homosexuality is associated with higher rates of sexual promiscuity, sexually transmitted diseases, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse, and those are all reasons for us to be concerned about placing children into that kind of setting.”

GLAAD has responded with a pithy statement regarding the episode:

Regrettably, the episode also features a defamatory statement by Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council, an anti-gay activist organization, who claims: “Homosexuality is associated with higher rates of sexual promiscuity, sexually transmitted diseases, mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, and child sexual abuse, and those are all reasons for us to be concerned about placing children into that kind of setting.” While there is no credible scientific research that backs Sprigg’s claim—and much that disputes it—the episodepresents his assertion as if it were fact and offers no credible social science experts or child health authorities to challenge Sprigg’s assertion. Indeed, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, the Child Welfare League of America, and many other child health and social services authorities who support parenting by qualified lesbian and gay parents dispute Sprigg’s claim. Continue reading ‘GLAAD responds to defamatory statements on FX’s show “30 Days”’