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LA Gay & Lesbian Center slams KCBS/KCAL for publishing mug shots of men charged in sting operation

Meant to post this yesterday but better late than never.

L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center officials are outraged that KCBS/KCAL decided this week to display on its website the mug shots, names and birthdates of 18  men who were recently charged in an undercover sex sting operation at a Manhattan Beach public restroom.

The men were reportedly charged with what the center calls “victimless crimes” ranging from loitering to engaging in lewd conduct in a public place.

“It’s shocking that any news operation, but especially an affiliate of a major network like CBS, would choose to publish the mug shots, names and birthdates of people charged with victimless crimes, simply because the charges are salacious or related to gay sex,” said L.A Gay & Lesbian Center Chief of Staff Darrel Cummings. “Naturally we don’t condone illegal activity of any kind, but these men haven’t been proven guilty and historically, charges such as those leveled against them have involved police entrapment. Publishing their photos serves no purpose other than to humiliate and destroy their lives.”

The Center is calling on KCBS/KCAL to remove the images and names from their website. I’ll update you on the situation tomorrow!

FILE UNDER: Controversy

Comments

(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)

One Remark

  1. April 5th, 2012 at 10:24 pm
    K. Martinez says:

    Yeah, I think this is a pretty bad practice. They do that up here on the Central Coast all the time. I’ve seen people’s faces and full names displayed on the tv who were accused of pretty serious crimes only later to have the charges dropped. By then the damage is already done. The newsgroups do this because they can. I get the sense that the media has no sense of restraint or responsbility.

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